West Ham opened their season with a disastrous 3-0 defeat to Sunderland. Many critics had concerns for the Hammers’ fortunes prior to the campaign, and their first match has done nothing to extinguish these. To make matters worse, Fenerbahce have now opened talks for Edson Alvarez, in a four-way race.
Jose Mourinho Eyes Up West Ham United ‘Monster’
Edson Alvarez Considering Options
Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Fenerbahce “open talks” with West Ham for Alvarez. This comes after it was revealed that Ajax were interested in the midfielder. Reportedly, the Turkish club have made “initial contacts” as two other European clubs have also made an approach for the “monster”, making this a four-way European race.
Read More: Transfer Demand ‘Made Clear’ By Graham Potter to West Ham United for Final Weeks of Window
Manager Jose Mourinho is particularly keen on the signing, with Alvarez “strongly wanted” by the famous tactician. The West Ham player is currently “considering his options” with no decision made yet. The Turkish Süper Lig is not the most competitive in Europe, but it boasts strong financial incentives for players, whilst Alvarez is not guaranteed starts in East London.
Do West Ham Need Him?
Graham Potter did not play Alvarez for a minute against Sunderland (he stayed on the bench), though it is unclear whether this was due to transfer speculation. He started James Ward-Prowse and Guido Rodriguez in central midfield, who, quite frankly, struggled with Sunderland’s intensity. Noah Sadiki ran the show alongside the seasoned Granit Xhaka.
Whether the Mexican would’ve made a significant difference isn’t clear, though losing him would be a blow to squad depth. He started 20 matches in the league last season, playing in 28. Ward-Prowse and Rodriguez’s substitutions were Tomas Soucek (who is a fine player) and the unproven Andy Irving.
Read More: Leeds and West Ham Target ‘Special’ Player Seeking Regular First-Team Football
Furthermore, Ward-Prowse, Rodriguez, and Soucek are all in their thirties. Youngsters Oliver Scarles and Freddie Potts are available, but you’d expect the board to dip into the market should they lose the 27-year-old.
