Chelsea’s £51m Bid for West Ham Star Rejected, Agent Reveals
Chelsea Football Club made a desperate attempt to secure the signing of West Ham midfielder Edson Alvarez, but their bid was rejected by Ajax, according to the player’s agent. The Blues, under the management of Thomas Tuchel, were keen on bringing in another midfielder before the summer transfer window of 2022 closed. However, despite offering a mammoth fee of €60 million (£51 million), Ajax refused to let Alvarez leave as they had already sold several key players.
Tuchel, who was effectively acting as head coach and sporting director at the time, was determined to strengthen Chelsea’s squad. The club had already made nine major signings that summer, including the likes of Wesley Fofana and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. They made a late bid for Alvarez, hoping to secure his services. However, Ajax’s refusal to cooperate meant that the Mexican midfielder remained at the Dutch club.
Alvarez eventually joined West Ham a year later for a fee in the region of £35 million – significantly less than what Chelsea had offered. His agent, Nathan van Kooperen, expressed his disappointment with Ajax’s decision not to accept Chelsea’s offer. Van Kooperen revealed that Chelsea were prepared to go to great lengths to sign Alvarez and criticized Ajax for not having a replacement ready for the midfielder.
The rejection from Ajax was particularly difficult for Alvarez, as he saw his friends leave the club while he remained. Moving to Chelsea would have made him the most expensive Mexican footballer in history, which added to his frustration. However, Alvarez has since suggested that not joining Chelsea may have been a blessing in disguise. The London club has gone through multiple managerial changes since Tuchel’s departure and is currently struggling in 11th place in the Premier League.
In an interview last year, Alvarez reflected on the failed move and stated that he believes everything happens for a reason. He acknowledged that Ajax is also a big club and that the experience of staying with them has been educational for him. Despite the initial disappointment, Alvarez has embraced his time at West Ham and is grateful for the opportunities he has had.
It remains to be seen how Alvarez’s career will unfold, but for now, he is focused on his role at West Ham. The Mexican midfielder has proven to be a valuable addition to the team, serving as a replacement for Declan Rice. As he continues to develop and make his mark in the Premier League, Alvarez’s decision to stay at Ajax instead of joining Chelsea may have been the right one after all.
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