Ajax technical director Sven Mislintat has dismissed speculation that West Ham target Edson Alvarez is poised to leave the Dutch club.

Sky Sports have suggested that the Hammers have an “open” dialogue with Ajax about signing the Mexican international but Mislintat has played down the chances of the midfielder leaving the Johan Cruyff Arena in the near future:

“After Borussia Dortmund pulled out (of a deal) for Alvarez, no club has become so concrete for him. Of course, there are talks and calls are made. But it is not as serious as Dortmund was at the moment.”

As Mislintat says, Dortmund withdrew their interest in the 25-year-old earlier this summer, and it is believed that Ajax have had to drop their asking price to around €40m (£34m).

Considering that they rejected a €50m (£43m) bid from Chelsea for Alvarez last year, it appears that they are pretty desperate to get the player off the club’s books.

Alvarez is not a primary target for West Ham

It is believed that manager David Moyes has prioritised the signings of Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher, Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse and Manchester United’s Scott McTominay.

However, the Irons could be priced out of moves for all three players. Gallagher’s valuation currently stands at £50m, while Ward Prowse (£35m) and McTominay (£40m – £45m) will not be much cheaper.

Steidten has his own list of options

New technical director Tim Steidten has reportedly recommended Alvarez, among others, including Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana and Juventus’s Denis Zakaria.

However, with West Ham making bids for the likes of Gallagher and Ward-Prowse, it appears as if Moyes is the one winning the argument in terms of which targets the club are pursuing.

Whether that changes if the Hammers fail to land some of Moyes’ preferred choices, we shall have to wait and see.