What ex-Crystal Palace and Sheffield United star already hinted about West Ham free transfer

Former Sheffield United defender John Egan is tipped to complete a free transfer to Premier League outfit West Ham following his release from Bramall Lane this summer as Julen Lopetegui looks to make the most of the free agent market.

The new Hammers boss already enjoyed a busy summer of activity in the window but appears to not yet be done with his business. The London outfit loaned out Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd in the last few days, leaving space for an addition at centre-back.

With Deadline Day passing on Friday, West Ham will have to make any potential signing a free agent but there are options available. Experienced former Liverpool man Joel Matip has been linked with a move to the London Stadium but West Ham are also 'in talks' with Egan.

That's according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, who shared that talks are ongoing with both players' representatives. Egan would offer a younger option to Matip, although just two years separate the players at 31 and 33 years old.

The Irish Independent reported in June that two unnamed Premier League clubs had been looking at a move for Egan, who played little part in Sheffield United's underwhelming top flight campaign last season due to injury. The defender made just six league appearances during the 2023/24 campaign but has played in the Premier League 73 times during his career.

Speaking this summer, before his release from Sheffield United was confirmed, Egan said: "Where I stand is making sure I'm fully fit for pre-season. Those talks are going on in the background, they are above my head.

“For the last few months now, I've just been gearing myself towards getting fully fit for pre-season. I'm in a great place now. That's been at the forefront of my mind, getting back fully fit.”

At the same time, the former Sunderland youth graduate was asked about a potential return to the Premier League. Egan, who also spent a few months with Crystal Palace as a rising star in 2012, remained coy but refused to rule out a move to a club such as West Ham.

The defender, who has also played for Brentford and Gillingham, said: “Most of these things are out of my hands. As a player, all I can do is focus on getting my body up to speed.

“The talks will be going on in the background and when the time comes, when there is an offer or a decision to be made, everything gets weighed up. My main goal now is to keep going with my training and keep working really hard. When the time comes where a decision has to be made, a decision will be made.

“Ideally I would like to have something sorted soon, but as I have said before, these talks are going on in the background and as a player all I can do now is make sure I recover from this injury 100 per cent and keep striving really hard to put myself in the best shape possible for pre-season.”