West Ham United are considering a swoop for Edson Alvarez, in a bid to bolster their midfield options.
The Lowdown: Defensive midfielder targeted
The Irons strengthened their squad considerably in the summer window, bringing in the likes of Thilo Kehrer for £10.1m at centre-back, and Lucas Paqueta for a club-record £51m in an attacking-midfield role.
However, one position that they didn’t improve which manager David Moyes now feels needs an upgrade, is defensive midfield, with Alvarez – who currently plays for Ajax – seen as a great option.
The Latest: Alvarez monitored
According to a report from 90min, the Mexican has impressed the Hammers scouting team, and the club are now monitoring his availability for a switch to the London Stadium.
Given Declan Rice has an uncertain future at the club, with rumours swirling that he won’t sign a new Hammers contract, the interest in a new player in his position may indicate a desire to sign a long-term replacement for the England international.
The Verdict: Great signing
If the Irons were able to pull it off, the man once dubbed a “monster” by journalist Felipe Cardenas would be an unbelievably good signing for the club, so they should try to make it happen at all costs.
Highly dominant in the air, the £27m-rated powerhouse averages 3.61 aerials won per 90 minutes, fantastic at winning the ball in the air, with this putting him in the top 1% for midfielders in this area.
If the 58-time Mexico international is going to be a Rice replacement in the future, it is important that he has similar qualities to the England star, which he definitely does. Averaging 1.49 interceptions per 90 minutes puts him in the top 14%, compared to Rice’s slightly higher average of 1.86.
Also a keen passer of the ball, Alvarez has a pass completion rate of 86.9%, a particularly impressive stat when you consider that he attempts an average of 71.58 per 90 minutes, in the top 4%.
Therefore, it’s evident that the Mexican powerhouse – who has made 22 appearances in the Champions League over his career to date – would be a nice and valuable upgrade to Moyes’ engine room.
