What it means for West Ham as Real Sociedad line up offer to buy 50% of Edson Alvarez's economic rights

West Ham United and Real Sociedad could be set to engage in a unique transfer agreement for Edson Alvarez.

The 28-year-old midfielder doesn't appear to have a future under Nuno Espirito Santo.

Having returned from playing four games at the World Cup with Mexico, the former Ajax star looks set to leave the London Stadium this summer.

Alvarez joined West Ham in the summer of 2023 in a £35.4million deal from Ajax, and he's since made 73 appearances for the Hammers, scoring two goals.

The Mexican penned a five-year contract with the Irons that summer, meaning he's still contracted in E20 until 2028.

However, La Liga outfit Real Sociedad now seem ready to end his association with West Ham, and they may look to secure his signature in somewhat complicated fashion.

How do Real Sociedad want Edson Alvarez deal to look like?

West Ham Zone has been following reports linking Alvarez with a move back to Ajax this summer.

That would make a lot of sense for the player given his past success with the Dutch giants, but Spanish football could also be calling as well.

A report from the print edition of Spanish newspaper AS on Friday has claimed that Alvarez's name is gathering pace for Real Sociedad.

The report claims that Sociedad are willing to offer €7.5m euros (£6.4m) to acquire 50 per cent of Alvarez's rights.

But what does obtaining 50 per cent of his rights mean, and is it a type of agreement that West Ham should be willing to take?

Why West Ham should snap Sociedad's hand off for Alvarez deal

Whilst not a typically seen type of transfer agreement in English football, paying for a percentage of a player's rights is very common in Spain.

There are two ways in which the deal could be agreed, with both options allowing West Ham the chance to generate further income on Alvarez in the future.

Should West Ham agree to let Sociedad acquire 50 per cent of Alvarez's rights, the first option would be that the Spaniards pay that aforementioned £6.4m fee now, and West Ham retain a contractual right to 50 per cent of any future transfer profit/fee.

Sociedad would own the player's registration, and that would enable Alvarez to play for them.

Or, the alternative could be that, again, Sociedad pay a £6.4m initial fee to obtain his registration, but if Alvarez is sold on in the future, the Hammers would automatically take half of that sum.

So, instead of getting a slightly larger initial fee right now, West Ham would have the chance to make more money from his sale in the future should Alvarez shine in La Liga and be sold on again.

Given the money they've now raised through the sales of Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville, this is a type of transfer bet that the Hammers can definitely afford to make.