**The future of West Ham’s Edson Álvarez is very much up in the air.**
The Mexican midfielder is currently on loan at Turkish side Fenerbahçe but suffered an ankle injury in February, which required surgery.
The 28-year-old is expected to be out until at least next month, and if his injury doesn’t heal properly, he could struggle to recover in time for this summer’s World Cup.
Additionally, Álvarez’s future at West Ham is uncertain. The general feeling among fans is that the Mexican will depart the London Stadium in the summer, regardless of whether the Irons remain in the Premier League or not.
It was a strange decision by Graham Potter to allow the Mexican to depart – although many of the former boss’ decisions were baffling.
The Mexican had a complicated campaign in 2024/25, losing a lot of the credit he had built up in his debut season.
Many forget how well Álvarez played upon his arrival from Ajax in 2023. He was a core player in David Moyes’ final season, and the Hammers often looked worse when he wasn’t in the side.
The midfielder came third in the Hammer of the Year fan vote, beaten by Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen, who both enjoyed exceptional campaigns.
But fast forward almost two years, and that is almost a distant memory. A significant injury at the 2024 Copa América put him at a disadvantage heading into the following season.
Álvarez missed pre-season with the Irons and appeared to play through injury upon his somewhat premature return. He struggled alongside Guido Rodríguez and never hit the heights of that first season.
The Mexican has played 11 times for Fenerbahçe this season, assisting once. One of the criticisms of Álvarez during his time in East London was his lack of discipline. He was sent off in games against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest last season.
However, he is yet to be dismissed in yellow and blue, and he has only been booked on four occasions.
Admittedly, under Julen Lopetegui, the entire squad and management displayed poor discipline, with Álvarez being the clearest culprit. Perhaps under the more composed Nuno Espírito Santo, the footballing side of his game could really shine.
The midfielder is still a quality player, as he has often shown for his country, even when his club form was poor. He reads the game well, shows composure on the ball and can pick a pass.
If he were to play alongside Mateus Fernandes, he could really thrive. The pair could form a formidable and tenacious midfield duo.
Of course, none of this matters if West Ham are relegated this season, as there is no way Álvarez would play Championship football. But if the Hammers stay up, he could be a very useful player next season.
This West Ham team is a different side to that of the last 18 months. It’s a side that looks happy and united, and one that is generally competitive in games.
Álvarez may leave in the summer. But if West Ham are still a Premier League side, they would be wise to trial him in this rejuvenated Nuno team.