West Ham United head coach Graham Potter has a big decision to make concerning Edson Alvarez in the January window.
Edson Alvarez has been well off the pace for West Ham this season, and now Graham Potter has dropped a big hint about the midfielder’s future at the London Stadium.
Monaco are allegedly keen to sign the Mexico international from the Hammers in the January transfer window.
Personally, I would sell the midfielder at the drop of a hat.
His disciplinary record is horrendous, with two red cards to his name already this season and 21 bookings in 61 games for West Ham.
In addition to that, I’ve noticed that he’s pulling out of challenges time and time again – not exactly behaviour you expect to see from a so-called ‘hard man’ is it?
What I think of Alvarez is irrelevant though. It’s the opinion Potter has of him that counts.
Graham Potter drops big Edson Alvarez hint
In my opinion, Potter has already made something very clear indeed.
During our 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Friday night, the Hammers head coach was actively trying to influence proceedings with instructions for his players on the sidelines.
I noticed one very important thing though.
Nearly every time there was a break in play, Potter was transmitting his instructions through one messenger – Edson Alvarez.
Now, Potter must rate the 27-year-old and trust him implicitly, otherwise he would have given the messages to another player.
The 49-year-old has always had a defensive, deep-lying midfielder in all of his teams. Just Look at Moises Caicedo and Yves Bissouma at Brighton and N’Golo Kante at Chelsea.
Could Alvarez be that player for him at the London Stadium? That remains to be seen, but I feel like Potter is a big fan of him.
And I expect Alvarez to remain at West Ham beyond the end of the January transfer window now.
Edson Alvarez has been poor for West Ham this season
The 27-year-old midfielder has been in truly awful form on the whole for the Hammers this term.
In fairness to him, he did suffer a serious hamstring injury in the summer whilst playing for Mexico but still, I expect to see so much more from him.
Alvarez actually looked decent during our 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Friday night, and we need to see him back to his best now.
The way that Graham Potter was communicating with Edson Alvarez tells me that the Hammers boss sees the Mexican as an important player for him.
The former Ajax man certainly has the quality needed to succeed in the Premier League, but does he have the discipline and mentality?
The jury is very much out regarding that question.
And only time will tell as to whether or not he succeeds under Potter.
Related Topics
