El Tri doesn’t kick off its Copa América calendar until Saturday in Houston, but several Team Mexico players have been involved in transfer rumors that are making headlines.
While some of the whispers are reasonable, a few seem like mere speculation designed to get clicks.
To be frank, the rumblings will get stronger (or weaker) depending on how the transfer targets perform in the next two weeks.
So let’s take a look at four El Tri stars who will be scouted heavily during the group stage.
El Tri captain to Manchester United?
Midfielder Edson Álvarez has become a valued member of West Ham United after just one year in town. Before joining the English Premier League club, he had been the target of a bidding war that reportedly involved Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich as well as Chelsea.
The 26-year-old Club América product played in 31 EPL games (going the full 90 minutes in 19 of them) while logging nearly 2,400 minutes. Álvarez also played in 7 Europa League contests and four Cup matches.
His performances caught the eye of several big EPL clubs and at least one of them – Manchester United – is reportedly lining up an offer for the El Tri skipper.
🚨🔴 Man United, seriously considering to bring in also new midfielder — almost sure in case Casemiro leaves.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 19, 2024
Understand Mexico captain Edson Álvarez is one of the option discussed internally, appreciated by ten Hag.
It’s difficult deal, as West Ham considers him as key player. pic.twitter.com/UUUiSy1vLb
If Edson sparkles at the Copa América, he very well could follow in “Chicharito” Hernández’s footsteps and call Old Trafford his home.
Two Mexico defenders looking for new landing spots
Johan Vásquez and César Montes helped El Tri win a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Since then, they have been mainstays in the middle of Mexico's defense.
Vásquez, 25, signed on with Serie A minnows Genoa shortly after the Olympics while Montes moved to La Liga’s Espanyol in December of 2022.
Vásquez took some time to settle into the more rugged style of play in Italy, farmed out to Cremonese for the 2022-2023 season, before establishing himself as a full-time starter this past season.
As a result, Lazio is taking a close look at the former Pumas star as it seeks to inject youth into its back line.
As for Montes, while getting decent reviews but has had the misfortune of playing for poor teams.
Espanyol was relegated in the spring of 2023 so the Barcelona-based club shed Montes’ salary and sold him to Almería which suffered the same fate as Espanyol.
That leaves Montes, 27, on the trade block again (though he is on the record saying he would be willing to play in La Liga B) and this week there were rumors linking him to an unnamed team in the Russian Premier League. If “El Cachorro” were to go there, he’d join El Tri teammate Luis Chávez in the cold climes of Russia, but there are naysayers who suggest a move there could stunt his development.
A solid performance in the Copa América could help Montes find a team in Western Europe.
‘El Bebote’ has a decision to make
Santi Giménez has been tapped to lead Mexico’s attack in the Copa América after yet another goal-filled season with Dutch giants Feyenoord.
The 23-year-old striker tallied 26 goals in all competitions this past season, including 23 in league matches (good for third among all scorers).
A season earlier, Giménez helped Feyenoord claim the Eredivisie title while scoring 15 goals in the league and another eight goals in other competitions. Those 23 goals set a new record for most goals in a debut season in Europe by a Mexican national.
It seems inevitable that “El Bebote” will move to a bigger league this summer, with three clubs reportedly vying for his signature. The teams linked to Giménez are Serie A giants Juventus and AC Milan, while Atlético de Madrid is also pursuing the talented forward.
There is a fourth team showing interest – English Premier League side Tottenham – so the former Cruz Azul star will have a tough decision to make following the Copa América.