West Ham make £25m bid for Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez after agreeing five-year deal with the Mexican star
West Ham have made an opening £25million bid for Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez.
Talks were ongoing on Saturday as Ajax wanted £35m but could agree a compromise at £30m.
The 25-year-old is on holiday in his native Mexico but is ready to fly to London to complete a medical once a fee is agreed.
His representatives have already agreed a five year contract worth a reputed £148,000 a week before tax.
Alvarez, who has been the subject of interest from Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund, is poised to become David Moyes’s first signing of the summer.
As one arrives, Gianluca Scamacca departs with the Italian striker heading to Rome on Saturday to sign for Atalanta in a £25.9million deal with a further 10 per cent sell on clause.
In the 12 months he has spent in east London, Scamacca has struggled to impress, scoring three times across 16 appearances in the Premier League before a knee injury and a meniscus problem ended his season prematurely.
He did manage to chip in with three goals in West Ham’s victorious Europa Conference League campaign, but has openly admitted his desires to leave the club.
Earlier this summer, he teased a move to Roma and claimed that ‘Jose Mourinho would improve me more’ and said ‘Roma is home for me’.
Moyes remains keen to sign Harry Maguire from Manchester United and James Ward-Prowse from Southampton after their last offers were rejected.
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West Ham United transfer news as loan-to-buy now on cards for Chelsea ace Trevoh Chalobah
West Ham still want to sign Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah, and the Blues have now told him he can leave the club this summer, according to TEAMtalk.
The online publication shared on 5 August that Chelsea would prefer a permanent move for their academy product, but could be open to a loan-to-buy move amid interest from West Ham, Crystal Palace and Everton.
It has also been reported that there is no shortage of interest from Europe in the defender, who would be open to a move abroad despite strong interest from within the Premier League.
A loan might suit all parties
West Ham have had multiple big-money bids rejected this summer, as clubs hold out for high prices in the knowledge that the Hammers recently received a huge £105million from Declan Rice’s move to Arsenal, so a loan move may provide them with an opportunity to strengthen without the financial strain.
While any loan move would likely include an option or obligation to make it permanent, it will allow the Hammers to differ payments rather than spending on top of other high-profile targets this summer.
The Hammers have been linked to sever centre-backs this summer, including Manchester United’s Harry Maguire and Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah, although Chalobah offers a younger option, as well as sticking with the homegrown target David Moyes has set.
The Chelsea defender was targeting a stay at Stamford Bridge this summer, but the club’s move for Axel Disasi from Monaco has essentially forced him out of the club, with West Ham seemingly poised to capitalise.
In other West Ham news, a huge bid has been placed after agreeing to wage for new signing.
