West Ham United‘s hopes of signing Mats Hummels have suffered a blow. According to football transfer ITK Fabrizio Romano, the German defender is set to join AS Roma after the Italian club made an improved offer.
Mats Hummels has chosen to join AS Roma, despite interest from West Ham United. The German defender’s decision was influenced by several factors, including the Italian club’s improved offer and the opportunity to play in Serie A. As reported earlier, the Italian side offered the chance for the defender to sign a 1 year deal with an option which could see him play until he is 37.
With Hummels joining AS Roma, West Ham will need to explore other defensive options. Joel Matip, a former Liverpool player, is a potential target for the Hammers. Matip is currently a free agent and could provide experience and quality to West Ham’s defence.
Edson Alvarez, a versatile midfielder, could also be used as an emergency centre-back option if needed. Much in the same way Sam Allardyce used Chiekou Kouyate in central defence in the 2016/17 season when things got a bit wobbly for a while.
However, relying on Alvarez in this position is not a long-term solution for the Irons and a waste of his talents.