Report: The Real Reason West Ham Have Overtaken Newcastle in the Race to Sign Standout Free Agent

West Ham United are reportedly now ahead of Newcastle in the race to sign free agent Joel Matip, who became available this summer after leaving Liverpool.

Matip’s departure from Anfield ended an eight-year tenure during which he established himself as one of the top central defenders in Europe, contributing to Liverpool’s Premier League and Champions League victories.

Over the past few weeks, West Ham has been strongly linked with Matip, particularly after their failure to sign another centre-back before the close of the summer transfer window.

This left head coach Julen Lopetegui with limited options in defense, especially after Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma departed the club on deadline day.

The pursuit of Matip may now provide a solution for Lopetegui’s center-back shortage, as both West Ham and Newcastle are reportedly interested in securing the player’s signature.

Matip remains available for a free transfer, and both clubs are monitoring his situation closely.

The key factor giving West Ham the advantage in this race, according to a report from the Shields Gazette, is that Newcastle has already filled its 25-man squad for the season.

This means they cannot register Matip until the next transfer window.

In contrast, West Ham has only named a 22-man squad, which allows them to sign and integrate the 33-year-old Cameroon international immediately.

For West Ham, this presents a significant opportunity, and Lopetegui is now in a position to make the most of this chance.

However, it remains uncertain whether the coach views Matip as a necessary addition or whether he plans to rely on youth, such as Kaelan Casey, as the team’s fourth-choice center-back.

Matip, standing at 6ft 5in, has been a top performer over the last decade, and his experience at Liverpool makes him an attractive option for West Ham.

Despite being 33, he could still contribute effectively as a fourth-choice defender.

However, his injury history, particularly a cruciate ligament injury that sidelined him for the second half of last season, may raise concerns within the West Ham camp.

There are doubts over whether Matip can regain his previous form following his recovery.

Nonetheless, since he is available on a free transfer, the financial risk of signing Matip is relatively low.

From this perspective, bringing Matip to the London Stadium could be a smart decision for Lopetegui, as his presence would bolster the club’s defensive options.

The question now lies in whether West Ham’s board is willing to approve a deal for Matip, potentially offering him a one or two-year contract with a substantial wage package.

Regardless, his availability offers a unique opportunity that West Ham may find difficult to pass up.