Edson Alvarez looks like West Ham's new defensive midfielder.

The Ajax player is close to becoming Declan Rice's replacement.

Alvarez is reportedly undergoing a medical examination in London today before signing a 5-year contract. West Ham is set to pay around £34 million for the 25-year-old Mexican, making him West Ham's first signing this summer. It is somewhat surprising that West Ham has not been active in the transfer market yet, especially considering the significant amount they received for Declan Rice. With that kind of money, they should have enough funds to strengthen the squad and avoid a situation like last year, where they were battling relegation for parts of the season.

Edson Alvarez has been at Ajax since 2019 and has been one of the key players for the team in the last couple of seasons. He is a versatile player who can play both as a center-back and a defensive midfielder. In the early days of his time at Ajax, he delivered several impressive performances in defense, which even attracted interest from Manchester United.

Over the last two seasons, he has been utilized in the defensive midfield position, and he has excelled in this role. He is a skilled passer and can make important tackles. Alvarez has shown his adaptability and versatility on the field, making him an essential player for Ajax's success in recent times.

Edson Alvarez stats in Eredivisie 2022/23: 
Games: 31
Goals: 3
Assists: 3
Chances created: 28
Pass success: 88.9%
Duels: 373
Duels success: 53.6%
Tackles: 71
Interceptions: 36

With his impressive technical skills, ability to read the game, and excellent positioning, Edson Alvarez has been a crucial part of the Ajax team, and he has helped them achieve success both in the Eredivisie (Dutch top division) and in European tournaments like the UEFA Champions League. Therefore, West Ham is getting an experienced gentleman as he has played several big matches, and undoubtedly, he will be able to utilize that experience at West Ham.

He has been brought in as a replacement for Declan Rice, so there is a lot of pressure on the Mexican as he must fill the shoes of a West Ham legend. Their playing styles are quite similar, so on paper, it looks like a good signing for West Ham, and they have also acquired him at a reasonable price.