Claim Chelsea “were prepared to go €60m” for signing – Club’s refusal a “complete misjudgement”

Ajax were wrong not to accept Chelsea’s bid for Edson Álvarez, particularly as nobody else will offer the €60m the Blues were willing to pay again.

That’s according to journalist Mike Verweij, who says the decision to reject the bid from Chelsea was a ‘complete misjudgement’ from the Dutch giants.

Álvarez found himself among the numerous players targeted by Chelsea in the summer transfer window, with Todd Boehly and co moving for him late in the window amid their expansive spending.

Ajax refused to accept the offer for the midfielder, though, blocking exits for any other players following a summer that had seen them lose players such as Lisandro Martinez and Antony.

Chelsea’s interest in the player has not waned since that point and it is believed he will be among their targets in future if they are allowed to continue spending.

Álvarez is also keen on the switch to Stamford Bridge, having made it clear on more than one occasion that he was disappointed Ajax stopped him leaving when Chelsea made their effort for him.

That was something they shouldn’t’ have done, according to Verweij, who has criticised that decision on De Telegraaf’s football podcast.

“They were prepared to go to sixty million,” Ajax Showtime report him saying.

“That was a complete misjudgement on Ajax’s part. That amount will not be offered again, unless some club panics really badly and needs another player.

“But he is a Mexican international and at 25 he has already played 61 international games. There will always be a market for that, so I think another big club will come for him.”