The Mexican appears to be made for Premier League football and might have an impact comparable to Joao Palhinha at Fulham.
After the trouble numerous international players had settling in last year, David Moyes made it clear at the start of the transfer season that he intended to bring more established Premier League talent to West Ham this summer.
On the surface, the Hammers’ business did not appear to fulfil the brief, with James Ward-Prowse the only player signed with considerable English football experience.
The Irons, on the other hand, appear to have snagged the next best thing in Edson Alvarez. Similarly to Joao Palhinha, who moved from Sporting to Fulham a year ago, Alvarez appears to be a player tailor-made for the Premier League, and the £35 million cost paid to Ajax appears to be a bargain.
Moyes is notoriously cautious when it comes to integrating new players, but even if Tomas Soucek hadn’t been ruled out with a concussion, one suspects the Scot would have been content to throw his new Mexican machine right into a testing environment at Luton on Friday night.
Along with Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen, the 25-year-old was brilliant in the 2-1 win at Kenilworth Road, which momentarily propelled Moyes’ side to the top of the table and keeps them in the top four heading into the international break.
Declan Rice may have made the weekend’s headlines, but his replacement has quietly made a fantastic start.
