West Ham could be set to land a major coup with a six-time Bundesliga-winning defender expressing interest in joining the club, a move that would align with Julen Lopetegui’s plans to fortify his defence.

West Ham United, under the management of former Real Madrid and Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui, have been extremely active in the transfer window. According to Florian Plettenberg, the Hammers are considering bringing in one more experienced central defender this window. Mats Hummels has been added to their list.

Under new manager Lopetegui, who is known for liking a big squad, West Ham are looking to bolster their defence by bringing in the “world-class” Hummels, who left Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund last month. Hummels, who turns 36 in December, played 40 matches for Dortmund last season, scoring crucially in the Champions League semi-final second-leg against Paris Saint-Germain.

He played 25 Bundesliga matches, starting 20 of those, and scored on three occasions. Despite his age, the German centre-back, who is currently a free agent, had a fantastic season, playing more games than the previous two seasons. His dressing room presence would be significant for Lopetegui’s side: the “serial winner” has won the Bundesliga five times along with seven domestic cups, and the World Cup.

However, West Ham are not the only club interested in Hummels. Another club that are also interested in signing the free agent is Brighton. According to Florian Plettenberg, there was a call between new Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler and Hummels in the past few days. Hürzeler, who won promotion to the Bundesliga with St Pauli last season, looked to present the Brighton vision.

One club that has already approached Hummels this summer was Bologna. The Italian outfit are currently looking to replace Riccardo Calafiori, who signed for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal last month. However, despite offering Hummels a multi-year contract worth €2m, the player rejected it, looking for better options elsewhere. Moreover, it is possible that Hummels will look to retire this summer. The player has yet to fully commit to his future.

Lopetegui’s Side Busy in Transfer Window

Lopetegui likes a large squad, differing from that of his predecessor David Moyes. In doing so, the club has been very active in the transfer window, evident with their interest in Hummels. Max Kilman reunited with his former Wolves manager, leaving the club after six seasons. He played and started every Premier League match last season for Wolves as their captain. Signing for €47.5 million, he was joined by Sheffield United goalkeeper Wes Foderingham as a free transfer.