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.
Commitment is more than flying into silly tackles
“Let’s see,” Alvarez told TV Azteca Deportes.
“If you are in this environment, rumours will exist, both for you and for us. And well, I think that, as they said, it means that you are doing things well, that they are turning their attention to you.
“I just use it to my advantage. In the sense of continuing to do what I am doing, trying to improve and well, increase my confidence.”
Alvarez needs to have a word with himself here.
He is disrespecting West Ham time and again.
And his performances have been nowhere near good enough to be seriously considered for a move to a European giant like Bayern or Milan where he would definitely not be first choice.
Alvarez’s propensity to pick up bookings week in, week out often makes life difficult for West Ham.
His brainless sending off at Liverpool saw his teammates battered 5-1.
He was seen shaking his head at Julen Lopetegui when subbed off in a Carabao Cup game.
When fit and firing there is no doubting Alvarez’s quality.
If Alvarez really wants out then Hammers should sell
But there is clearly a reason Lopetegui brought in Guido Rodriguez in the summer.
There is no way Rodriguez and Alvarez will play together regularly at West Ham.
That would ultimately mean leaving out a top attacking player. And when they did play together against Chelsea it was a disaster.
Alvarez has all the makings of a bona fide West Ham cult hero. But his body language and words suggest he wants away.
If Alvarez really wants out of West Ham that much, perhaps the club should just sell him in January.
West Ham are missing a real box-to-box, mobile, powerful midfielder. Alvarez is none of those things.
He faces a fight to get back into the West Ham team before worrying about impressing enough to earn a move.
In the meantime, how about showing the club paying you £100k per week a touch of respect and commitment?
And we don’t mean by throwing yourself into silly tackles.
Proper commitment by being a leader on and off the pitch and pushing West Ham back into Europe he wants to play there so badly.
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