West Ham technical director Tim Steidten is favouring a move for former Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels on a free transfer, according to Sean Whetstone.

The journalist has inside sources at the club and he claims that the former German international has emerged as the club’s “preferred” candidate to strengthen their backline:

“Matt Hummels is now emerging as a strong contender as the free agent to fill the fourth centre-back role and is Tim Steidten’s preferred option.”

There have been reports that both former Liverpool defender Joel Matip and ex-Sheffield United player John Egan have also come under consideration,

However, Whetstone said that there are major “concerns” about the fitness situation of the two centre-halves.

Matip and Egan have had serious injuries recently

The Hammers are justified in being worried about the respective fitness of both players. Matip suffered an ACL injury in December last year and he hasn’t played a competitive game since then. It would take him a while to get up to speed. Combined with the fact that he is 33 years of age, it doesn’t make the move very attractive.

Egan is in a very similar situation. The Republic of Ireland international hasn’t played any football since last September due to a foot injury.

Hummels would add experience to West Ham’s backline

Max Kilman, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Jean-Clair Todibo are all in their mid to late 20s so they have plenty of senior football under their belts but Hummels pretty much has a decade of additional experience on top.

The fact that he was a regular starter for Dortmund as they reached the Champions League final last season suggests that he still can contribute too, despite the fact that he will turn 36 later this year.

Find out who is in West Ham’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here