West Ham have already lined up £40m Declan Rice transfer replacement Chelsea wanted last summer
West Ham have reportedly contacted Ajax over a potential move for midfielder Edson Alvarez.
The 25-year-old Mexican international has spent the last four seasons in Amsterdam, racking up 147 appearances for the club and scoring 13 goals while winning two Eredivisie titles.
Last year Alvarez played 44 times in all competitions, featuring in both Champions League group stage matches against Liverpool that ended in defeat.
Last summer the midfielder was the subject of Premier League interest from Chelsea, who saw a £42.8million offer rejected by Ajax who felt there was not enough time left in the window to secure a replacement.
West Ham are yet to make an offer for Alvarez but, according to the Athletic, could land him for a fee of around £35million to 40million — less than half of the fee that the Hammers are due to receive from the sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal.
Alvarez moved to Europe in 2019, signing a five-year deal at the Johan Cruyff Arena from Club America. He extended his contract in 2021, with that deal expiring in 2025.
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The midfielder, who can also operate as a centre-back, featured twice for Mexico at the World Cup in Qatar, starting the group stage draw against Poland and the win against Saudi Arabia.
He has 67 appearances for his country, being the youngest player in Mexico's 2018 World Cup squad and being part of the team that won the CONCACAF Gold Cup a year later.
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