West Ham have found their way out of Edson Alvarez | OneFootball

Most of the summer transfer rumors surrounding West Ham have focused on a new striker, but the Hammers probably need midfield help more than they do a No. 9 - and that's especially true if former Dortmund man Niclas Fullkrug can stay healthy. When on the pitch, Fullkrug has looked like a legitimate starting-caliber Premier League striker.

Meanwhile, the West Ham midfield is in shambles. The club doesn't have a single great center midfielder, and their best overall player at the position is still Tomas Soucek, who is tied for the team lead with seven goals at the tender age of 30.

Last summer, West Ham brought in Guido Rodriguez from Real Betis, but he's made a minimal impact. And yet, he hasn't been the club's worst midfielder in the regular rotation, as that "honor" belongs to former Ajax standout Edson Alvarez, who has been an unmitigated bust since arriving in London for 35 million pounds in 2023.

Edson Alvarez isn't good for the Premier League

Alvarez has been horrible in the 2024/25 Premier League season, and his disastrous campaign, in combination with the Hammers' poor results in the table, should finally spell his doom at the club. He has been a big part of the problem, constantly making poor decisions in the middle of the park, including rash fouls.

He is too slow for the Premier League, and his physical style of play doesn't even matter since the other players are both more athletic and, quite frankly, smarter than him. Alvarez gets baited into making back-breaking fouls, and his poor discipline extends to his inability to adequately cover for the back line.

While he is an active defensive presence, that's really because it's the only thing he can do. On the ball, Alvarez is a disaster, posting a pass completion percentage of 86.3. That may look good on paper because it is the highest on the team, but it is not so good when you consider the context. Alvarez passes the ball more than any other midfielder on the team, and he rarely attempts difficult, line-breaking passes that meaningfully progress play.

Alvarez is a sinkhole who ranks as one of the team's least creativity players in terms of key passes per game. Despite being the main player who holds the ball in the deep part of the midfield, Alvarez creates fewer chances than the fullbacks, strikers, and even some of the center backs.

So send him to Dortmund

So with Dortmund-based WAZ.de reporting that the Black and Yellows are back in on the 27-year-old Mexican international as a possible summer transfer target, West Ham have to be paying close attention and ready to sell Alvarez to Dortmund for any reasonable offer.

Whether it is Thomas Delaney, Emre Can, or Salih Ozcan, Dortmund have an infatuation with players like Alvarez who have limited talent but like to play the physical game. And West Ham should be more than happy to oblige in enabling Dortmund's thirst for these plodding midfielders who have held BVB back from winning the Bundesliga for years.

West Ham should have learned their lesson with Alvarez. He is less hard-nosed than Soucek, unable to impact the attacking phases like Soucek, and less disciplined. Alvarez is a younger, flashier defensive midfielder with no substance or end product, and anyone who thinks he's better than Soucek - or even a fraction of the player, at this point - probably isn't paying close attention.

Dortmund's renewed interest in Alvarez is a puzzling lifeline for West Ham - one the Hammers should grab instantly. If they can even sell him for 20 million pounds, that's wages cleared and 20 million pounds to the good that can be used to sign a successor with both better technical skills and a better understanding of the position.