Ajax boss confirms midfielder was denied Chelsea transfer

Ajax head coach Alfred Schreuder has confirmed that Edson Alvarez was eager to join Chelsea before the transfer deadline.

The Blues made a £43m offer for the 24-year-old on the penultimate day of the summer transfer window, but Ajax refused to do business.

Their transfer window formally closed on August 31 rather than September 1, and they had no time to bring in a quality replacement.

Shreuder has now confirmed that the proposal from the Blues, and reassured that the midfielder is fully committed to the club again.

He said ESPN.nl: "Chelsea reported themselves for Edson Alvarez on the final day and Alvarez wanted this move."

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

Alvarez was left bitterly disappointed by the setback, but it has been reported that the Blues plan to return for him in January.

The Mexico international has been reassured over the same, and the Blues could restart negotiations for him in the coming weeks.