West Ham United must go all out to sign ‘fantastic’ Declan Rice replacement amid transfer development
West Ham have endured a roller-coaster season, one that ended in the best way possible as the club secured the Europa Conference League trophy.
Their Premier League place was in real danger at one point not so long ago, with many supporters fearing the worst.
But manager David Moyes guided the club to safety before helping them secure major European silverware for the first time in a very long time.
However, things look set to take another twist in East London this summer, with club captain Declan Rice nearing an exit from the London Stadium.
It has been a long time coming, with the midfielder close to completing a switch to London rivals Arsenal for £92million [The Telegraph, 8 June].
But a ready-made replacement could already be on the cards, with ExWHUemployee reporting that the Hammers have opened talks with Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez about a move to East London.
The Mexican would have big boots to fill in the middle of the pitch at the London Stadium, but he is a player that West Ham should go all out to sign in their best attempt to replace Rice.
The 25-year-old has plenty of big-game experience from his time at Ajax, and knows what it is like to fight for silverware having clinched two Eredivisie titles with his current club.
The Netherlands outfit won’t want to lose their midfield maestro, but they have proven time and again that they are able to find a suitable replacement for their outgoing stars immediately.
West Ham should have plenty of money to spend if Rice does make his likely exit, with Alvarez guaranteed regular playing time at a Premier League club, and one that is now set to play in the Europa League next season following their Europa Conference League success.
In another boost for the Hammers, Alvarez is also more than capable of dropping into central defence, with such versatility an amazing asset in the modern game. It is no surprise that his former Ajax teammate Lisandro Martinez labelled the Mexican “fantastic” after the Argentine left for Manchester United [Voetbal International, 27 July, 2022].