Premier League giants Manchester United are reportedly set to rival Chelsea in their pursuit of Ajax defensive midfielder Edson Alvarez.
According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, Manchester United have joined a long list of elite clubs vying for the signature of Ajax’s snappy Mexican midfielder Edson Alvarez, with Chelsea also keeping tabs on the 25-year-old enforcer despite seeing a late £40 million bid rejected for him last summer.
The Mexico international is a holding midfielder, and has made 119 appearances for Ajax since arriving from Club America in 2019, chipping in with 10 goals and five assists in the process. He has been a key player for both Ajax and the national team over the past few seasons and has been a mainstay for the Dutch giants this season, making 16 appearances in all competitions.
Renowned for high number of defensive actions, game-reading ability, and ball-winning mentality, the 25-year-old’s progress has not gone unnoticed on the continent.
He came close to joining Stamford Bridge after Blues made a late move for the defensive midfielder, lodging a bid worth €50 million in the last week of the transfer window, but the Dutch giants refused to sell the player as there was no time to find a suitable replacement.
The player himself was keen on the move, however, and reportedly went on strike refusing to train in a bid to force through the move, but he did not get his wish. Chelsea are still interested in the Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez, and according to Fabrizio Romano, and he is on their list of targets for 2023.
The interest has continued from the summer, as the club looks to bolster Graham Potter’s roster by adding a new midfielder. The Blues are mindful that both N’Golo Kanté and Jorginho have less than a year left on their existing deals and believe Alvarez could be a long-term solution.
While he remains a target for the Blues, other clubs including Barcelona, West Ham and Newcastle are also interested. Now, Manchester United have also jumped on the bandwagon of his admirers and are eyeing a 2023 move for the Mexican.
The Red Devils are on the lookout for another midfielder to partner Casemiro in the double pivot. Frenkie De Jong remains the top target, but if they fail to convince him to leave Barcelona yet again, Erik Ten Hag could turn to Alvarez, whom he signed for Ajax while he was in charge of the Dutch side.
Alvarez is a very defensive-minded and versatile player, capable of playing as both a defensive midfielder and centre-half, similar to his former teammate Lisandro Martinez. However, with him under a long-term contract until June 2025 at the Johan Cruyff Arena, Ajax are in a strong position to once again ask for a premium fee for their prized asset.
