Fenerbahce are set to sign West Ham midfielder Edson Alvarez on loan, and I'm absolutely buzzing about it. The Mexican international will be a cracking addition to the squad, and I can't wait to see him in action.
Who is Edson Alvarez?
Alvarez is a top-notch midfielder who joined West Ham in 2023 from Ajax for £35million. He's made 73 appearances for the Hammers across two seasons, and he's been a key player for them. But now he's headed for the exit door at the London Stadium, and Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho is poised to snap him up.
Why are Fenerbahce signing him?
Fenerbahce are looking to secure a spot in the league phase of this season's Champions League, and they need all the help they can get. Mourinho's side booked their spot in the play-off round after a 6-4 aggregate victory over Feyenoord, but they've still got a tough match against Benfica coming up. Alvarez could be just the player they need to give them that extra edge.
When was Fenerbahce last in the Champions League?
If Fenerbahce get past Benfica, it would be their first appearance in the Champions League proper since the 2008/09 campaign. They've been knocked out in the third qualifying round or the play-offs in previous years, but Mourinho is determined to get them back to where they belong. The signing of Alvarez could be a big step in the right direction.
What other signings have Fenerbahce made?
Alvarez isn't the only new face at Fenerbahce this summer. They've also signed Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina, Milan Skriniar from Paris Saint-Germain, and former Wolves skipper Nelson Semedo on a free transfer. They've also snapped up enigmatic striker Jhon Duran on loan from Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, although he hasn't quite settled in yet.
What happened between Duran and Mourinho?
There were murmurs of a rift between Duran and Mourinho after the Portuguese boss suggested the striker failed to attend pre-season training in Portugal. But Fenerbahce's head of communications was quick to shut down any such talk, saying "The alleged statements attributed to our head coach Jose Mourinho in the foreign press regarding our player Jhon Duran are entirely false. Our coach has not made any statements on this matter. Our player arrived in Portugal this [Wednesday] evening to join our team’s Algarve training camp."
The first leg of Fenerbahce's Champions League play-off against Benfica takes place on Wednesday with kickoff scheduled for 8pm. I'll be glued to my screen, cheering them on and hoping Alvarez can make an immediate impact. Come on you Fenerbahce!
