West Ham Midfielder Linked With Exit as Dortmund Lead Chase | OneFootball

Dortmund Show Interest in West Ham Midfielder as Summer Shake-Up Looms

West Ham Midfield Attracting Bundesliga Attention

West Ham United could be set to part ways with Mexican international Edson Álvarez this summer, with German heavyweights Borussia Dortmund now reportedly stepping up their interest. As London World revealed, “German giants Borussia Dortmund are said to have contacted the agents of a West Ham player in a bid to get ahead of a summer transfer.”

Álvarez, who arrived from Ajax in 2023 for a reported £32.3 million, has struggled to nail down a consistent starting role under Graham Potter. Despite making 25 league appearances this season — 19 of those from the start — he appears to sit on the fringes of Potter’s long-term plans.

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Sources close to the club suggest that Dortmund are among several European sides tracking Álvarez, with interest also building in France. His versatility and physicality have long appealed to clubs across the continent, but West Ham may now see him as a means to generate funds for their own rebuild.

Potter’s West Ham Project Begins to Take Shape

This has been a transitional season at the London Stadium. Graham Potter inherited a squad assembled for Julen Lopetegui and is yet to fully impose his vision. While results haven’t significantly improved, there is an air of patience around the club — an understanding that the summer will bring the clarity and changes required.

Potter himself admitted as much following the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth: “I understand where the crowd are at because we haven’t done well enough at home… But I think if they can see something, the crowd get behind us and then, like I said, it’s a fantastic atmosphere and really pushes the team.”

The summer window, seen as both a more affordable and flexible period for business, is when the real transformation is expected. As London World notes, “Plenty has been made of West Ham’s possible signings this summer, with many players linked, but we are also likely to see several exits in order to make space for those incomings.”

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Profit and Sustainability Rules Loom Large

As Premier League clubs continue to navigate Profit and Sustainability regulations, West Ham, like many, must sell to buy. Álvarez’s sale could serve that purpose perfectly. He is a player with European pedigree and a resale value that could comfortably fund multiple reinforcements.

Though he has shown flashes of quality — particularly in controlling midfield transitions — Potter has yet to fully trust him. In a system predicated on fluid movement and positional discipline, Álvarez’s game doesn’t yet feel like the right fit. Whether he would thrive in a league like the Bundesliga, where transitional play is more direct, is a question Dortmund may soon have the chance to answer.

Squad Rebalancing Must Follow Summer Exodus

With a mid-table finish looking inevitable, West Ham are likely to prioritise reshaping their core. Álvarez isn’t the only player facing an uncertain future. The club has already shown signs of careful budgeting, as seen in January when they opted to bring in Evan Ferguson on loan rather than commit to heavy winter spending.

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If Álvarez does depart, it will be a strategic sale rather than a panic decision — a calculated step toward giving Potter a squad truly built in his image.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

For West Ham fans, this news may sting — but it won’t come as a shock. Álvarez has had solid moments, yet he’s never quite taken command of midfield battles the way supporters hoped when he joined from Ajax. In some ways, his role at West Ham has felt more functional than influential.

There’s no doubt he’s a tidy player, one with the experience to hold his own. But with Potter clearly seeking more technical and progressive midfield options, fans may see Álvarez’s potential sale as a logical move — especially if it frees up funds to land players better suited to the manager’s vision.

Supporters will rightly ask where the reinvestment goes. The priority should be a central midfielder who can dictate tempo, pass under pressure, and anchor a side that often struggles in transitions. If Álvarez’s exit finances that evolution, it could be a positive step.

But timing will be everything. West Ham can’t afford to lose established names without a clear and coherent recruitment plan. Fans will back the changes — but only if the board gets them right.