West Ham set record straight on Edson Alvarez amid talk Everton are mystery fourth club in mix

West Ham United have responded to speculation linking midfielder Edson Alvarez with a move away from the club, following reports that Everton may be a surprise fourth team interested in signing him. Alvarez was an unused substitute in West Ham's opening day 3-0 defeat to Sunderland, and the 27-year-old is among several midfielders the club is attempting to sell as they seek to bring in new players in that position.

Both West Ham and Everton have started the new season with demoralizing losses to newly-promoted sides, highlighting a need for reinforcements. The midfield has been a particular area of concern for West Ham since the departure of David Moyes, with the team failing to adequately replace Declan Rice despite receiving £105 million for his sale. This has resulted in a slow and immobile midfield lacking power and dynamism.

Similarly, Everton's midfield has also been identified as a problem area, prompting both Moyes—now back at Everton—and West Ham's current manager Graham Potter to actively seek new central midfielders in the final weeks of the summer transfer window. Earlier in the summer, Everton were linked with a move for West Ham's Tomas Soucek, another player who has fallen out of favor under Potter, though no deal materialized. The ongoing pursuit of Alvarez suggests both clubs are urgently addressing their midfield deficiencies.