---
title: "West Ham United: Edson Alvarez would be a ‘huge statement signing’"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/january-transfer-news-alvarez-ajax-premier-league/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Follow up"
published: "2023-01-10T06:15:30Z"
modified: "2023-01-10T06:15:30Z"
---

# West Ham United: Edson Alvarez would be a ‘huge statement signing’

**[Journalist Pete O’Rourke](https://twitter.com/SportsPeteO) has claimed that reported transfer target Edson Alvarez would be a ‘huge statement signing’ for [West Ham United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-news/).**

### The Lowdown: Rice replacement?

[Journalist and transfer expert Graeme Bailey](https://twitter.com/GraemeBailey) recently told [Loaded Mag NUFC](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F1zIY5kTWk&ab_channel=LOADEDMAGNUFC) that West Ham are considering signing Alvarez because of Declan Rice’s potential move to Chelsea.

The England international is [reportedly](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/chelsea-fc-news/chelsea-declan-rice-transfer-rumours-update/) a summer target for the Blues, and so if he is to leave, the Hammers will have to line up a suitable replacement.

### The Latest: ‘Huge statement signing’

Speaking to [GiveMeSport](https://www.givemesport.com/88102696-west-ham-leader-statement-signing-london-stadium-transfer-news-declan-rice), O’Rourke has claimed that Alvarez would be a ‘huge statement signing’ at the London Stadium:

*“Midfield has been an area of concern for West Ham. They didn’t land all of their top targets in the summer, so it’s been a position that David Moyes wants to fill. And if he can sign someone like Alvarez, it would be a huge statement signing.”*

[![West Ham latest updates!](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cropped-david-moyes-premier-league-scaled-1.jpg)](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-uodates/)

### The Verdict: Hard to replace Rice…

It would no doubt be a tough task for any player to replace Rice at the Irons.

Lauded as a ‘[monster’, a ‘force of nature’, a ‘leader’ and a ‘serious talent’](https://twitter.com/_rob_b/status/1586808260719366144?s=46&t=UAyCwChGoPC8zPrrpPmSBQ) by journalist Rob Blanchette, there are not many better players in Rice’s position, while former England international Paul Parker even believes that he the ‘[best central midfielder in the country](https://www.football.london/west-ham-united-fc/news/declan-rice-160m-west-ham-22649896)‘.

He has won the Hammer of the Year award [twice](https://www.whufc.com/news/declan-rice-crowned-202122-betway-hammer-year), including last season’s, and some supporters may even deem him irreplaceable.

However, with [over 100 games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/edson-alvarez/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/401356/plus/0?saison=&verein=610&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) for Ajax, and [61 caps](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/edson-alvarez/nationalmannschaft/spieler/401356) for Mexico, Alvarez is also a top player, and someone Chelsea were willing to bid [£43m](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/12686352/chelsea-transfer-news-blues-bid-43m-for-ajax-midfielder-edson-alvarez#:~:text=Chelsea%20have%20made%20a%20%C2%A3,Raheem%20Sterling%20and%20Kalidou%20Koulibaly) for in the summer.

David Moyes’ side are also [reportedl](https://twitter.com/Toby_Cudworth/status/1612424202925268994)y interested in signing strikers Youssef En-Nesyri and Terem Moffi, so if they can get enough quality signings through the door, it may cover for the potential loss of Rice.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”419201″\]