West Ham United have missed out on signing German defender Mats Hummels, with the former Borussia Dortmund star now heading to AS Roma for a medical, as reported by Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.
Just yesterday, The Times revealed that West Ham’s technical director, Tim Steidten, was eager to secure Hummels after a proposed move to Roma appeared to falter over wage demands.
However, the Serie A side has since reached an agreement with the 35-year-old, leaving the Hammers to seek alternative defensive reinforcements.
West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui had identified Hummels as an ideal fourth centre-back option to support Maximilian Kilman, Konstantinos Mavropanos, and Jean-Clair Todibo. The experienced defender would have been a valuable addition, especially after the recent departures of Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma.
With Hummels now off the table, West Ham may turn their attention to other free agents, including former Liverpool star Joel Matip and ex-Sheffield United defender John Egan.
Both players are on the club’s radar, but there are concerns about Matip’s fitness. The former Cameroon international has been sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury since December, and his injury history raises doubts about his ability to contribute consistently.
Lopetegui has started the season with Kilman and Mavropanos as his preferred centre-back pairing, while Todibo has made three substitute appearances across all competitions.
The loss of Hummels is undoubtedly a setback, but bringing in a player like Matip, Egan, or another experienced free agent could still provide the depth West Ham needs as they navigate the season.
Securing a reliable defender will be crucial for the London Stadium club, especially as they aim to strengthen their backline and compete on multiple fronts this season.