Real Sociedad hold talks to sign West Ham star Edson Alvarez | OneFootball

West Ham United are expected to sell midfielder Edson Alvarez this summer. He is surplus to requirements, and the Hammers want to get him off their books.

According to transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano, Real Sociedad have now opened club-to-club talks with West Ham to sign the Mexican star.

West Ham have long moved on from the 28-year-old and will likely make a departure from the London Stadium quite smooth.

Signed in 2023, he had an incredible debut campaign for the Irons before his form dwindled the following season. He subsequently went out on loan to Turkey last term.

He didn’t do enough to convince Fenerbahce to sign him permanently, but now the Spanish side has entered the picture alongside his former club Ajax to secure his signature.

West Ham have Freddie Potts from the academy and signed Soungoutou Magassa last term to bolster the midfield.

The latter has shown some promise, but Nuno Espirito Santo doesn’t trust him enough to hand him the keys to the defensive midfield position.

Perhaps the drop into the Championship might encourage the Hammers boss to give the 22-year-old a consistent run of games to prove himself.

West Ham are stacked in midfield as they look to secure a return to the Premier League on the first try.

The Irons should use any sum they get from the Alvarez sale to reshape their defence, which desperately needs a makeover.

Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo should be sold after struggling to improve the rearguard following their big-money moves.

Bundesliga outfits are also reportedly keeping tabs on Konstantinos Mavropanos, and he could seek an exit in the coming weeks.

West Ham could use one or two competent defenders at the back for the coming season.

Securing the backline should be a priority for the East London outfit after recording outrageously bad defensive metrics in their last two seasons in the top flight.