Edson Alvarez to Barcelona: The winners and losers

Karan Tejwani

26 Oct 2022 12:00 BST
5 min read

Edson Alvarez has emerged as a target for Barcelona in recent weeks with the Blaugrana looking at him as one of the options to improve in the midfield pivot.

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Alvarez has been in great form for Ajax so far this season, showing why the Dutch champions were keen to keep hold of him in the summer, but their resistance may not last much longer.

Other than Barcelona, Chelsea and Newcastle United are also interested in him, and a move could be completed for him in the near future.

READ: Who is Edson Alvarez? Ajax's midfield machine targeted by Chelsea

So, who are the winners and losers from this deal?

Winners

Pedri, Gavi, Kessie

The obvious winners would be Barcelona because they’d be improving their midfield massively, and the pivot position has been in need of improvement for quite some time. With the addition of Alvarez, they would be getting a top quality talent in their ranks.

That would improve those in front of him, allowing the likes of Pedri, Gavi and Franck Kessie to play with more freedom and perhaps make them better. Sergio Busquets may not be of the same quality anymore, but adding in a player like Alvarez can improve those around him.

READ: Edson Alvarez to Chelsea in 2023: The state of play

Ajax

A part of the model for Ajax is to sell players at the right time and having resisted interest in him in the summer right until the end, next year may finally be the time for him to move on. Alvarez joined Ajax in 2019 and has gone from strength to strength in Amsterdam.

It’s believed that Ajax set a €50 million asking price on the Mexican in the summer and they will want a similar amount when they do want to sell him. That would represent great value for them, and would continue Ajax’s impressive track record of sales.

PSV

Apart from Ajax losing one of their star names to give PSV a more competitive advantage, there will be another benefit for PSV if Alvarez does go to Barcelona. It would allow them to keep their own midfield star, Ibrahim Sangare and strengthen with him.

Sangare, like Alvarez, has been linked to Barcelona and other clubs and should Alvarez go instead of the Ivorian, PSV can keep their star man and strengthen, giving them a greater chance at competing for domestic honours and go far in continental competition.

Losers

Frenkie de Jong

Frenkie de Jong has been given more chances in the Barcelona midfield in the pivot role in place of Busquets, but the signing of Alvarez – or any other such midfielder – may just limit those opportunities and open the door for the Dutchman’s departure from the club.

He has always wanted to stay at Barcelona and any move could limit those opportunities. Factoring in the club’s financial problems and the fact that De Jong will bring them plenty of money, a transfer could spell the end of his career at the Camp Nou.

Chelsea

Alvarez is one of the Blues’ top priorities in the summer transfer window, according to several reports. Chelsea made a deadline day approach for the midfielder, but it was refused by Ajax. However, they will attempt to come back for him next year.

🕵️| Chelsea is still very keen on signing Edson Álvarez, but Ajax doesn't want to sell the Mexican midfielder until at least next summer.

📰| @FabrizioRomano #Ajax | #Alvarez | #CFC pic.twitter.com/uNZrBW6fJU
— All About Ajax (@AllAboutAjax) October 25, 2022

Should he move to Barcelona, Graham Potter’s side will lose out on a big target and will have to look elsewhere for options and given that the likes of Jorginho and N’Golo Kante could leave next year, this will add to their problems in the goal of improving their midfield.

Sergio Busquets

Sergio Busquets has had an illustrious career at the Camp Nou, winning everything there is to win and he will go down as a club legend. However, the last year or so has not been fruitful and he is set for a tough ending to his career in Blaugrana.

The signing of Alvarez will spell the end of his time at the club and he has already been linked with moves abroad, with a Major League Soccer transfer looking likely. His legacy won’t be tainted, but he’d probably have wanted a better ending to his time there.