Fabrizio Romano issues Chelsea blow for £43m star wanted by Arsenal

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Chelsea could reportedly struggle to sign Ajax defender Edson Alvarez in January according to Fabrizio Romano, with Arsenal also believed to be chasing the Mexican international.

Speaking to CaughtOffside, the Italian transfer guru revealed that Alvarez has been on Chelsea’s radar for some time, with the Blues failing in the summer with a £43m bid to sign the 25-year-old late on in the window as reported by De Telegraaf, with 90min now claiming West Ham are also interested, as well as Arsenal.

A midfielder was on Arsenal’s agenda in the final weeks of the transfer window, but as we know, a move for Alvarez was in vain as the versatile Mexican remained in Ajax, where this season ‘El Machin’ has been in impressive form for the Dutch giants.

Able to play centre-back and midfield, Alvarez is set to become Ajax’s next big sale in the market following this summer’s departures of Antony and Lisandro Martinez to Manchester United, yet with the Amsterdam-based side eager to keep hold of the 25-year-old, Chelsea could struggle to sign the anchorman.

Indeed, Chelsea’s inability to sign Alvarez could also ruin Arsenal’s plans to land the Mexican. And according to Romano, it could take quite a financial effort to pry the Ajax superstar from the European giants, who are eager to keep one of their key players at the club beyond this season.

Romano said: “He’s always been on Chelsea’s list, but Ajax will try to keep him at least until the end of the season. There are no negotiations ongoing now, also no decision will be made by Chelsea on new midfielder in October; it will take some time. Not an easy one, for sure.”

Arsenal and Chelsea will both struggle to sign Alvarez in 2023

Ajax were truly gutted in the 2022 summer transfer window with the departures of two key players in Antony and Martinez, and the Dutch giants will no doubt want to ignore a repeat of such a period next year, meaning Alvarez could be off the table for Arsenal and Chelsea.

After all, the London sides might have the financial means to sign the defensive midfielder, but whether either side will be willing to go through with such a deal is another question entirely, especially if Ajax up their asking price for the Mexican superstar.