West Ham’s season couldn’t have started much worse. A 3-0 battering at the hands of newly promoted Sunderland set alarm bells ringing all over the shop, with the Hammers looking blunt up top and shambolic at the back.
If that’s a sign of what’s to come, Graham Potter has his work cut out — and sharpish.
The good news is there’s still time in the window to get bodies in. The bad news? Some dead wood needs shifting first, and it looks like one of the club’s big earners could be on his way out. Edson Álvarez, the £35 million man from Ajax who once promised so much, is closing in on an exit.
Earlier this week, Fabrizio Romano revealed that Turkish giants Fenerbahçe had made their move, with José Mourinho personally driving the deal. And now, less than 48 hours later, the transfer guru has doubled down with an update that makes the move look all but done.
Álvarez on Verge of Fenerbahçe Switch
West Ham United's Emerson Palmieri, Edson Alvarez and Guido Rodriguez. (REUTERS/Jaimi Joy)
West Ham United’s Emerson Palmieri, Edson Alvarez and Guido Rodriguez. (REUTERS/Jaimi Joy)
Romano now says negotiations have accelerated massively, with West Ham and Fenerbahçe now thrashing out terms on a loan with an option to buy.
Talks are positive, the structure works for both sides, and most crucially, Álvarez himself is warming to the idea of linking up with Mourinho in Istanbul.
In truth, it’s hard to blame him. His time in claret and blue has been nothing short of a rollercoaster — and not the fun kind. Touted as the midfield enforcer to replace Declan Rice when he signed in 2023, Álvarez initially looked the part. But his form fell off a cliff, his mistakes piled up, and before long he was warming the bench rather than bossing the midfield.
Now on £100,000 per week and offering precious little in return, West Ham shifting Álvarez, described as “versatile” by former Mexico boss Tata Martino, feels like a win for everyone involved. The Hammers can clear some much-needed wages, Mourinho gets his man, and Potter gets a chance to properly freshen up a midfield that looks crying out for energy and quality.
If this deal goes through, Álvarez will be waving goodbye to London Stadium before the month is out.