West Ham United have reportedly offered a two-year contract to 33-year-old Cameroonian defender Joel Matip, with Fulham also interested in the former Liverpool star.
According to a report by Caught Offside, Joel Matip is the subject of interest from West Ham United. The Hammers have already offered a two-year contract to the former Liverpool defender. However, the 33-year-old is also a target for Fulham, with Bournemouth and Leicester City keen on bringing him back to the Premier League as well.
Joel Matip and his career so far
Joel Matip was a solid performer for Liverpool throughout his spell with the Merseyside club. A native of Bochum, he spent his formative years with three German clubs and graduated from the youth division at FC Schalke 04. He spent over a decade and a half with the Gelsenkirchen-based club before moving to Anfield in a Bosman move in July 2016.
The 33-year-old often did not get his due but was one of Liverpool’s best players during the club’s trophy-winning campaigns under the tutelage of Jurgen Klopp. Matip turned out over 200 times for the Merseyside outfit while chipping in with 11 goals and six assists.
Joel Matip’s Liverpool stint coincided with Jurgen Klopp’s stay at Anfield, and both departed at the end of the 2023/24 season. Now a free agent, the Cameroonian defender has been waiting for his next adventure for several weeks but has yet to sign on the dotted line, even though many Premier League clubs have shown interest. West Ham United and Fulham are among his prospective suitors.
London calling?
West Ham United’s interest in Joel Matip is understandable. The Hammers have been keen on signing a centre-back on a free transfer after allowing Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma to seal loan exits in the last few days. The former Liverpool defender has thus emerged as a viable target for West Ham, with the East London club offering him a two-year contract.
As for Fulham, the West London club signed two centre-backs in the summer transfer window, with Jorge Cuenca and Joachim Andersen moving to Craven Cottage. So, Fulham might view Matip as a market opportunity, considering Marco Silva already has four centre-backs in his squad.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth and Leicester City are also keen on securing Joel Matip’s services in a Bosman move. However, with West Ham already offering a two-year contract to the former Liverpool defender, Fulham, Bournemouth, and Leicester City face a tall order to land him.
