Joel Matip set to stay in Premier League with two clubs in transfer battle for former Liverpool star

JOEL MATIP is set to stay in the Premier League – with two clubs on the South Coast vying for his services.

The defender, 32, waved goodbye to Liverpool fans at the weekend after eight years at Anfield.

PAJoel Matip is a free agent after Liverpool announced his departure[/caption]

EPAThe defender waved goodbye to Anfield after eight years on Sunday[/caption]

Matip was one of Jurgen Klopp’s first signings when he arrived as a free agent following a spell at Schalke 04.

And he played a key role under the German in securing a number of trophies for the club during the next eight seasons.

Matip helped Liverpool to end their three decade wait to be champions as they lifted the Premier League in 2020 – 12 months after he had lifted the Champions League.

But the Cameroon international suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Fulham in December that has sidelined him since.

However, he is high on the list of Premier League rivals Bournemouth after it was announced he is leaving Liverpool as a free agent once his contract expires next month.

Andoni Iraola has identified the player as a key transfer target and believes he can help take his Cherries side to the next level.

Meanwhile Southampton – who face Leeds in the Championship play-off final at Wembley this weekend for a place back in the Premier League – are also monitoring Matip.

And they hope to be able to persuade him to sign if Russell Martin can guide his team to an instant return to the top-flight on Sunday.

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Interest from abroad is likely to be high as Sun Sport understands that clubs in Spain and Germany are also monitoring the star’s situation.

Upon confirming his exit from Anfield, Matip, who departs with 201 appearances, 11 goals and seven winner’s medals to his name, said: “It has been eight wonderful years here in Liverpool.

“I was allowed to be part of an exciting history with a great coach and an astonishing team in an extraordinary club. We have achieved great titles and have the best fans in the world.

“I am full of gratitude for the wonderful time I was able to experience with these unique people supporting the club and the fans who love Liverpool FC.

“My wife and I have felt welcomed and supported from day one and together with the kids we had the best imaginable time here.

“We will always keep it in special memories.”

Liverpool are in the hunt for multiple new signings this summer to bridge the gap between themselves and title winners Manchester City.

A centre-back will be on the priority list of new Reds boss Arne Slot.

And Willian Pacho of Eintracht Frankfurt is one name being looked at as a potential option.

JURGEN KLOPP ON JOEL MATIP

Here’s what the departing Liverpool boss had to say about the defender:

“In all the years that I have been involved in football, I am not sure I have come across too many players who are more loved than Joel Matip.

“I’m not even sure it would be possible to say anything bad about him.

“A wonderful professional, a wonderful footballer and a wonderful human being – we have been blessed to have him with us for as long as we have and now all we can do is wish him well as he heads off in a new direction.

“Joel’s qualities as a player are there for all to see and as a club we have benefited from them since the first moment that he joined. I don’t think he has had too many headlines over the years but he has only ever been a very famous figure within our group.

“I have said before that if there was one person who wouldn’t care if he was underrated it would be Joel, but the truth is we could not have rated him more highly.

“Not only has he set the standards for himself, he has set them for others and this is one of the main reasons why his time here has been so successful.”