Edson Álvarez could be on his way out of West Ham, with reports indicating the Mexican midfielder is free to explore transfer options

Edson Álvarez could be on his way out of West Ham. The Mexican midfielder has seen his role diminish under manager Graham Potter, and reports suggest the club has already told him he’s free to explore transfer options this summer - just two years after his arrival in London.

Although he was initially brought in as a marquee signing, Álvarez no longer figures into West Ham’s long-term plans. With the team in 17th place, changes are expected - and Álvarez appears to be one of them.

His 2024 campaign has been marked by a mix of injuries and inconsistent performances. Combined with disciplinary issues on the pitch, he lost his starting spot to fellow midfielder Guido Rodríguez.

According to West Ham Central, the club has already informed Álvarez that he’s not part of next season’s plans. They’re willing to let him go, but only if they receive a fee of at least $37.5 million - roughly the same amount they paid Ajax to bring him in back in 2023.

At 27, he’s still eager to continue his career in Europe, and several teams have been keeping tabs on him. Clubs such as Monaco and Borussia Dortmund have shown interest, and more recently, Tottenham and Chelsea are also speculated to be monitoring his situation.

It’s a surprising turn of events for Álvarez, who has enjoyed a steady career in European football. In fact, before joining West Ham, Borussia Dortmund had also shown strong interest in signing the Mexican midfielder.

After a solid first season with the Hammers, Álvarez’s playing time has gradually decreased under Potter. Last weekend, he wasn’t named on the bench against Southampton, and two matches earlier, he remained an unused substitute in the game against Liverpool.

Hirving Lozano holds the record for the most expensive transfer involving a Mexican player in Europe, with Napoli paying $48.5 million to PSV Eindhoven. Álvarez and Raúl Jiménez are tied for second place - West Ham paid $43 million to Ajax for Álvarez in 2023, while Wolverhampton spent the same amount to sign Jiménez from Benfica in 2019.

West Ham visit Brighton for Matchday 34 of the Premier League. While the Hammers are just one spot above the relegation zone, they currently hold a comfortable 15-point lead over Ipswich Town.