Man Utd receive huge boost in ‘race’ for Ten Hag ‘favourite’ wanted by Chelsea, Dortmund

Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag will be happy to learn that Bayern Munich have ‘decided not to enter the race’ for Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez.

The Dutchman brought Alvarez to Ajax in 2019 after the Eredivisie giants paid €15million to lure him from Mexican club America, where the player came through the youth ranks.

Chelsea reportedly tried to sign the 25-year-old last summer but Ajax were not interested in selling with the Blues’ bid coming so late on in the transfer window.

Ajax sold several first-team players last year and have now relinquished their Eredivisie crown to Feyenoord having lost the likes of Antony and Lisandro Martinez, who both joined Man Utd.

Ten Hag could bring another one of his former players to Old Trafford this summer with Alvarez reportedly a target ahead of the summer window.

A new midfielder is definitely on the agenda and Spanish outlet Fichajes say Alvarez is Ten Hag’s ‘favourite’ target with the Red Devils willing to make a bid worth €50m.

The Mexican international should be open to a move to the Premier League having voiced his displeasure about Ajax rejecting Chelsea’s bid that was believed to be in the region of £55m.

He said last October: “There was interest from Chelsea. Nobody expected that they would make another offer. It was a difficult situation.

“Ajax really couldn’t do anything. They didn’t have a player in my position. Of course I fought as far as I could. I didn’t want to do that too much.

“Because I know the responsibility I have within the club. I am very disappointed, but I am convinced that sooner or later a big club will come for me.”

It has been widely reported since that the Stamford Bridge club will go back in for Alvarez at the end of the season, with a defensive midfielder expected to be a top priority for Mauricio Pochettino, when he eventually comes in.

Stories linking him to Chelsea are pretty scarce at this moment in time with a move to Old Trafford looking a lot more likely.

As well as the Red Devils, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have been strongly linked with Alvarez.

In a transfer boost to Man Utd, reliable transfer journalist Florian Plettenberg has said Bayern ‘won’t enter the race’ to sign the Mexico midfielder.

Plettenberg says the Bavarians have ‘decided’ against pursuing Alvarez as ‘they have other plans in central midfield’.

Dortmund remain interested and Alvarez – who is ‘ready for the next step’ in his career – is ‘really considering’ joining them, though ‘top clubs’ from England are also keen.

Ajax are willing to let the player leave and would be happy to accept a bid worth ‘€50m all in’.

That fee is obviously less than what Chelsea offered last August, which is slightly frustrating for Ajax, though they did get another year out of Alvarez, whose contract now has two years left.

According to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf (via Sport Witness), Ajax will struggle to get anywhere near what the Blues previously bid. They are looking to receive around €40m.

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