West Ham star Edson Alvarez talks up exit yet again and it’s simply not on
Edson Alvarez looked like the perfect replacement for Declan Rice when he first arrived at West Ham but has cut a frustrated figure for the best part of 2024.
If Edson Alvarez is enjoying life at West Ham he has a funny way of showing it.
The Mexican was Tim Steidten’s first signing after his arrival in east London last summer.
But it looks increasingly like he may also be the first player signed by the German to depart.
When Alvarez first arrived in east London from Ajax for £34.5m he quickly established himself as a fundamental player.
Many Hammers fans were left thinking ‘who needs Declan Rice’ so good were El Machin’s displays.
Like a number of West Ham’s top players, though, Alvarez’s form dropped off a cliff at the turn of the year.
So much so he even lost his place under David Moyes at the end of last season.
The Scot also criticised Alvarez saying he cannot last for 90 minutes in the Premier League.
Just a couple of months ago fading fan favourite midfielder Alvarez was being linked with a move to Manchester United.
Prior to that it was Bayern Munich.
On both occasions the 26-year-old did nothing to play things down. Quite the opposite in fact.
West Ham star Alvarez talks up exit yet again
Now West Ham star Alvarez has talked up a move away yet again and it’s simply not on.
Less than five months into life at West Ham last season, Alvarez stated he’s ‘always open’ to a move after links to Bayern.
He also went on to say: “I want to play and show the people my best qualities. But in the summer, you never know what‘s going on.”
Outlets such as Caught Offside reported at the end of last season that the Hammers were concerned Alvarez could push to leave if the club did not qualify for Europe.
The Hammers duly failed to do just that, finishing ninth.
And speculation was rife he could leave in the summer as links to Man United – and a reunion with former boss Erik ten Hag – emerged.
Again Alvarez talked the move up rather than committing himself to West Ham.
“I can only tell you that I’m focused on what I have to do,” the Hammers star said, as reported by ESPN in June.
“I know that the Copa America is a very important tournament where the eyes of the world are basically here.
“Later there will be time to see what there is or what there isn’t.”
It was a case of ‘isn’t’ as a hamstring injury ended his Copa America and any chances of a move.
New rumours emerged recently that AC Milan want Alvarez and could offer Ruben Loftus-Cheek in exchange.
Those rumours were put to Alvarez over the international break.
And yet again he did very little to play down an exit.
