West Ham Star Frozen Out Against QPR: Should Nuno Sell Him In January?

West Ham Star Frozen Out Against QPR: Should Nuno Sell Him In January? West Ham’s 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers has raised fresh questions about Nuno Espírito Santo’s team selection, with Edson Álvarez again left out of the matchday squad despite being available. Jarrod Bowen cancelled out Nicolas Madsen’s controversial penalty, but then missed a late spot-kick of his own. West Ham have now gone three matches without a win in all competitions. Nuno made two changes at half-time, replacing Kyle Walker-Peters and Tomas Soucek with Pablo and Edvin Austbø as he tried to alter the contest. Yet the more striking decision came before kick-off. Soucek was the only change to the starting XI following the 2-2 draw with Millwall, while Álvarez did not even make the bench. The Mexico international had been expected to return, but was absent altogether. According to Spanish outlet AS , Álvarez now “appears forced to look for a new club” after another omission. His only West Ham appearance this season, according to the report, came against Portsmouth in the Carabao Cup in August. Álvarez joined West Ham from Ajax in 2023 for a reported fee of around £35 million. At 28, he offers experience and ball-winning ability in front of the defence. However, a player with that profile needs regular minutes, and continued exclusion would make his role difficult to justify. Should West Ham sell Álvarez in January? SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND – AUGUST 16: Edson Alvarez of West Ham United arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Sunderland and West Ham United at Stadium of Light on August 16, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) Nuno may prefer Soucek’s running, physical presence and threat in the box, especially when West Ham need to chase a game. Still, leaving Álvarez out completely sends a firm message when the squad could need a defensive midfielder during a demanding promotion campaign. West Ham should keep him involved until January, even if he does not start every week. A place on the bench would give Nuno another option to protect a lead, win second balls and disrupt attacks. It would help preserve Álvarez’s value instead of allowing his season to drift without meaningful appearances. If the midfielder remains outside the plans, a January sale may make sense, provided West Ham secure a reasonable fee and use the money to strengthen the attack. Reports have linked him with Olympiacos, Ajax and Fenerbahçe, although those links do not confirm that a deal is close. Before making that call, Nuno needs to address the slow starts that keep forcing half-time changes. Álvarez could shield the back four, rather than become another casualty of the pattern in the coming weeks.