West Ham United are confident of securing the services of Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez in a deal worth between £35-40 million this summer.
According to Football Insider, West Ham United are working towards facilitating a move for Ajax’s defensive midfielder Edson Alvarez. The Hammers have been searching for a suitable replacement for £105 million-departed Declan Rice, and Alvarez is seen as a perfect fit. And they are confident of landing the Mexican enforcer for a very reasonable fee of around £35–40 million.
Alvarez, who has also attracted interest from Bayern Munich and Chelsea in the past, still has two years remaining on his Ajax contract, but the 25-year-old is keen to take the next step in his career after spending the last four years with the Amsterdam giants, making a total of 147 appearances in all competitions.
He has won two Eredivisie titles and one KNVB Cup during his time in the Netherlands, while he was also an integral member of the Ajax squad that reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2019.
The midfield lynchpin has also earned 63 caps for Mexico and played a crucial role in their 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup triumph. The 25-year-old has been in demand during the early part of the summer window, with Borussia Dortmund leading the race.
Personal terms between the player and the German club had purportedly been agreed, but Dortmund pulled out of the deal, citing a reluctance to invest the asking price in the Mexican international, which has opened the door for other suitors to enter the fray.
West Ham, for one, have held discussions with the player’s agent, who has “indicated the 25-year-old would be interested in a Premier League move.”
With £105 million from Rice’s sale to Arsenal burning a hole in West Ham’s pocket, the east Londoners have a bit of cash to splash as David Moyes and Co. set about building a squad capable of challenging at the right end of the table.
After seeing their £50 million bid for Joao Palhinha rejected by Fulham, the Irons have seemingly ramped up their pursuit of Alvarez, and it is now being reported that they are optimistic about their chances of bringing Alvarez to the London Stadium despite the competition for the player’s signature.
Alvarez would be a top-level replacement for Declan Rice. Unlike the England star, the Mexican is an absolute destroyer who is more focused on his defensive and ball-winning duties, which would give the creative Lucas Paqueta much more freedom to focus on churning out chances in the attacking third.
The 25-year-old is a versatile operator who can operate in either a double pivot or a three-man midfield. This versatility could give David Moyes more flexibility in terms of formations. However, with a number of European clubs watching on, it does feel like the Hammers should look to wrap up this one early before the player has a change of heart.
