Kevin Hatchard has shared that it ‘makes a lot of sense’ for David Moyes’ West Ham United to sign Ajax midfielder, Edson Alvarez.
The European football expert broke down the Mexico international’s style of play and what he could bring to West Ham ahead of his rumoured transfer.
Hatchard shared that Edson Alvarez is someone who is ‘aggressive’ in his play, ‘really good in the air’ and he does the basic side of defending in the midfield well, as he told The Transfer Show on Sky Sports.
The 25-year-old is edging closer to being West Ham’s much-needed first signing of the summer – that’s if others don’t beat him to it – with a photo emerging of his imminent move to the London Stadium, as posted by Fabrizio Romano on Twitter.
When that is done, he will have big shoes to fill because of the huge hole Declan Rice has left following his club-record transfer to Arsenal.
But to help Alvarez out, he will be hoping other midfield targets join him, including Southampton captain, James Ward-Prowse.
“He is a defensive midfielder, who can play at centre-back if needed,” said Hatchard. “He is aggressive. Really good in the air. He does all of the defensive basics really well.
“But he is somebody, who with Ajax, has been used to having a lot of the ball as well, so he is very used to bringing the ball forward and starting attacks.
“Whether he would have the same luxury, in terms of time, as he gets in the Eredivisie, is a completely different thing. But he has Champions League experience as well.
“It makes a lot of sense. If you are bringing somebody in, to play that defensive role, at the base of midfield, then he can do that job.”
Late transfer business by West Ham
There finally seems to be some movement in West Ham bringing in players after a delay following the departure of Rice.
The issue facing Moyes is that all of these new faces have had no pre-season under his belt and they will be chucked straight into the deep end.
Like last season, they can’t afford to start slowly in the Premier League, or else, it will hurt them badly.
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