Manchester United transfer target Edson Alvarez picked up an injury in Mexico’s Copa America opener against Jamaica. The West Ham star is the latest midfielder to have been linked with United as Erik ten Hag aims to strengthen his squad this summer.

Alongside Alvarez, Benfica starlet Joao Neves, Morten Hjulmand of Sporting CP and Everton’s Amadou Onana all appear of interest to United. The expected departure of Casemiro looks set to play a role in United’s pursuit of a new midfielder with Alvarez as the latest to speak out on his future.

“I can only tell you that I’m focused on what I have to do,” he said earlier this week. “I know that the Copa America is a very important tournament where the eyes of the world are basically there. Later, there will be time to see what there is or what there isn’t.”

With the 26-year-old’s claims in mind, United have been handed a major update after Alvarez was forced off with a non-contact injury this weekend. The Mexico captain was in tears as he was helped off the pitch by medical staff in the 30th minute of his nation’s 1-0 win against Jamaica.

As concerns over a potential long-term injury are high, Mexico boss Jaime Lozano offered an update on the plan to discover the severity of the issue. “We’re going to wait a couple of days to do some testing on him and to know, well, what he’s got going on,” he said after the match.

On Alvarez’s impact, Lozano added: “He’s extremely important. He’s a leader, he understands the game well. He’s important on the pitch and in the locker room as well. You listen to him talk, he has a way with words and when he speaks you listen. This was a tough blow for all of us.”