Barcelona set to hijack Chelsea move for £43M-rated Eredivisie midfielder.

Barcelona are set to hijack Chelsea's move for the Eredivisie midfielder.

Barcelona are reportedly set to rival Chelsea for the signature of Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez.

The 23-year-old was subject to late interest in the summer window from the West Londoners, who allegedly failed with a £43m offer.

Alvarez briefly refused to train with Ajax, who decided to block the Mexico international from moving to Stamford Bridge, and head coach Alfred Schreuder has since revealed that the midfielder was keen to sign for the Premier League club.

Speaking to ESPN last month, Schreuder said: "Chelsea reported themselves for Edson Alvarez on the final day and Alvarez wanted this.

"For one day he was feeling very down by yesterday he told me: 'Coach, I am here and I will give 100% again'."

Chelsea are thought to be keeping tabs on Alvarez's situation at Ajax and one report claims that they are preparing to reignite their interest when they January transfer window opens.

However, Sport states that the Blues could face competition from Barcelona for the midfielder's signature.

Barca are understood to have sent scouts to watch Alvarez in the Champions League games against Liverpool, Napoli and Rangers this season.

Alvarez. (Image via Getty)

The report adds that the Catalan giants have identified Alvarez as a possible replacement for midfield veteran Sergio Busquets, who is out of contract next summer.

Busquets, 34, has spent his entire 15-year professional career at Camp Nou, but he now faces an uncertain future at the club and has been linked with a potential switch to the MLS.

Alvarez is not the only midfielder attracting interest from Barcelona as the report also states that Wolverhampton Wanderers star Ruben Neves remains on their radar.

The 25-year-old recently admitted that it is a "privilege" to be linked with the Catalan club, telling Canal 11: "Who wouldn't want to try Barcelona? I think it's a common question for all players.

"It's one of the biggest clubs in the world. Of course, it's always a privilege for me to be associated with clubs of this calibre. I'm going to do my job here [at Wolves] and I'm sure I have people working with me.

"I trust these people a lot for these situations. I have to focus as much as I can on Wolves. Making a good time here, things will come naturally."

Barca have also been credited with an interest in Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi, PSV Eindhoven's Ibrahim Sangare and Benfica's Enzo Fernandez.

Comments

WATCH: Mykailo Mudryk scored first goal for Chelsea vs Fulham

A day to remember for Mykailo Mudryk as he nets his first Premier League goal. WATCH incredible goal here:

Former Chelsea Doctor, Eva Caneiro set to make dazzling return to football with new role in the 2022 World Cup revealed.

Remember Eva Caneiro? The former Chelsea Doctor? The Blues could be seeing her back in football action again, this time, in the World Cup. One of the major incidents during Mourinho's second spell at Chelsea was the 'dismissal' of the club's Doctor, Eva Caneiro at the time. Per GiveaMeSport, on the opening weekend of the 2015-16 Premier League campaign, Mourinho clashed with the then-Chelsea physio after she ran onto the pitch alongside colleague Jon Fearn to treat the injured Eden Hazard. Mourinho’s side were drawing 2-2 against Swansea City and the game had entered injury-time when the incident occurred. The revered Portuguese coach was furious with the medics, telling reporters afterwards: “I wasn’t happy with my medical staff because even if you are a medical doctor or secretary on the bench, you have to understand the game.” Mourinho felt that the medical intervention had affected his team’s chances of scoring a late winner and securing two more points. Dr Carne...

EXCLUSIVE: Noni Madueke reveals he got his self-confidence from his Nigerian father in heart-warming story of his childhood and rise to football success.

NoNI Madueke reveals he got his self-confidence from his Nigerian dad, while telling the story of his childhood, and his rise to football success. Chelsea star, Noni Madueke has disclosed in an interview, the source of his self-confidence. Recall, Chelsea had signed Madueke from PSV Eindhoven in the just concluded transfer window. While he's yet to get more playing time, Noni Madueke has clearly impressed with the few minutes given him to perform. Worthy of mention is his mentality and self-confidence in his interviews at a young age. The Chelsea starlet has never stopped speaking of how much he will come good for Chelsea, with goals, and his ambition to win big for the club. That determination to succeed certainly seems to have served Madueke well during his early career and later as he forged his own path through the professional game which has now brought him to Stamford Bridge. In the winger’s opinion, it is something he has always possessed, and he considers it an...

Chelsea Reports

Search This Blog