Ajax could lose another of their important piece of the squad this summer, after already selling over half-a-dozen crucial players. Chelsea target Edson Alvarez is the player in discussion here who wants to move to Stamford Bridge in a deadline-day deal. The Blues have gone all out in this transfer window, strengthening every department with new signings. They now want to reinforce in the middle of the park with Alvarez on their radars.
Chelsea have spent a whopping total of £200 million on six signings so far, as their new owner Todd Boehly hopes to make his first ever transfer window with the club a blockbuster one. They have acquired the likes of Raheem Sterling, Wesley Fofana, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marc Cucurella, Carney Chukwuemeka and Gabriel Slonina. However, as evident they haven’t bolstered their midfield enough as they now aim to swoop in the Eredivisie side’s defensive midfielder, who is rated at £20 million by transfermarkt.
Edson Alvarez takes the Antony way to seal a move to Chelsea
Edson Alvarez has been on the rise with Ajax through delivering some solid performances since joining them in 2019. He made 31 appearances in the Eredivisie last season, scoring 5 goals and providing an assist. He further racked up 2 tackles, 3.3 aerial duels won, 1.4 interceptions, 1.5 clearances and 1.4 shots per game in the league helping Ajax lift the title.
As his numbers tell, it is quite evident he is wanted direly at Stamford Bridge. However, Ajax have sold a core of their squad this summer, with the likes of Antony, Sebastian Haller, Lisandro Martinez, Ryan Gravenberch, Noussair Mazraoui and Nicolas Tagliafico all having left. As a result, manager Alfred Schreuder doesn’t want anymore sales as he hopes to keep hold of Alvarez.
On the other, the Mexico international wants to move to his ‘dream’ club Chelsea, and has reportedly chosen the path taken by Antony. According to De Telegraaf, Edson Alvarez has missed Ajax training ahead of their clash against Chambuur in the Eredivisie. The midfielder has done so in order to force a move out of the club and join the Blues. Antony too had skipped multiple training sessions, and a game against Sparta Rotterdam in a bid to mount pressure on Ajax to accept Manchester United’s proposal for him.
Sky Sports further report that Chelsea have tabled a formal offer of £43 million, double the amount of his current market value in front of Ajax for Alvarez. The Dutch giants are yet to respond to the bid as the Blues want to quickly seal an agreement for the Mexican. Thomas Tuchel has demanded the signing of holding midfielder since his pair of N’Golo Kante and Jorginho are evidently past their best.
Moreover, both the midfielders are on the negative side of their 30s and also in the final years of their contract. The German is hence left with Mateo Kovacic, who has recurring injury problems and Ruben Loftus-Cheek who blows-hot blows-cold. Tuchel wants Edson Alvarez to takeover the midfield duty at Stamford Bridge as he plans to unleash some young legs.
The possibility of both the clubs agreeing a deal for Alvarez however looks bleak in the closing hours of the summer transfer window. While Antony’s antics of being absent from training sessions may have won him a £85.5 million transfer to United, it is now to be seen how Ajax react to Chelsea’s £43 million approach for Edson Alvarez who is doing everything possible to join them.