Champions contact 'wonderful’ Joel Matip after Liverpool let him walk for FREE

One player Liverpool let walk for free this summer has now been contacted by a title-winning team. Joel Matip could be landing on his feet, to say the least.

German journalist Patrick Berger claims Bayer Leverkusen have been in contact with Joel Matip over a free transfer. The centre-back left Liverpool after eight years this summer.

The Reds decided not to renew Matip's contract. The reasoning behind it was solid - the Cameroonian turns 33 in August and is coming off a serious injury that ruled him out for the last six months of the season.

It's a move that Jurgen Klopp didn't necessarily agree with, and he labelled Matip 'wonderful' as he departed at the end of the campaign.

Liverpool, then, opted to release him instead of committing to more years of Matip. Leverkusen, however, believe he's exactly what they need right now.

"Bayer Leverkusen is interested in Joel Matip,” writes Berger on X. "The defender is without a club, his contract with Liverpool FC was not renewed after eight years.

"The defender and his management are said to have been contacted. [Leverkusen] would like to bring in an experienced central defender, which is why Mats Hummels was also considered."

Joel Matip could join Bayer Leverkusen

It would be a fantastic move for Matip, in all honest. There were real questions over who would take a punt on him this summer, given his age and injury concerns.

But Leverkusen are coming off a sensational, historic season and are in need of a centre-back as Jonathan Tah looks certain to leave. Matip could walk into a phenomenal team that wants to challenge for major trophies again.

So are Liverpool making a mistake here? They could have kept Matip but decided they didn't need him going forward. Instead, they'll back Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah as their options.

Maybe this is the best-case scenario, though. Liverpool can move forward with a younger defence and also see Matip land on his feet. Everyone at Anfield certainly wanted that for him.