West Ham are confident of clinching a deal for the Ajax midfielder Edson Álvarez and are attempting to mend relations between David Moyes and Tim Steidten, the club’s technical director, before the season begins.
Frustration is mounting over the lack of incomings at West Ham, who are still waiting for their first summer signing. Business has been slow since the appointment of Steidten last month and there has been growing uncertainty around Moyes’s future as the club’s manager.
The tension owes to Steidten and Moyes disagreeing over targets, with West Ham looking for two midfielders, a left-back, a left winger and a centre-back following the £105m sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal.
The pair have different visions over the team’s development. Moyes wants proven Premier League players but his move for Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse has stalled because of opposition from Steidten over the fee for the midfielder. West Ham are unwilling to go above £30m for Ward-Prowse and are seeking a compromise with Southampton, who could take Flynn Downes as part of a deal for the 28-year-old. Steidten has struggled to convince Moyes to push for Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana.
The focus has instead turned to Álvarez, with West Ham hoping to make significant progress over the weekend. Agent fees held up West Ham’s move for the Mexico midfielder last month but they are due to hold talks with Ajax over the 25-year-old. Álvarez, who has experience of playing in the Champions League, has already seen a move to Borussia Dortmund break down this summer and is ready for a new challenge. He could cost around £40m.
Suggestions that Moyes could quit have been played down by insiders. Sources at the club want Moyes and Steidten to have a productive working relationship and believe that the mood will improve once new players arrive. However, it is understood that a managerial change is a significant possibility if West Ham start the season badly.
Moyes, who strengthened his position by winning the Europa Conference League last season, will want West Ham to make an improved bid for Ward-Prowse. Alternative targets in midfield include Manchester United’s Scott McTominay and Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher. Atalanta are leading Internazionale in the race to sign the Italy striker Gianluca Scamacca from West Ham.
