It would be “very strange” if Ajax’s board of directors gave the green light for Edson Álvarez’s return, according to De Telegraaf’s Mike Verweij.
Speaking on the Kick-off podcast, Verweij on the one hand, hopes that the Ajax board will step up and get Álvarez’s return over the line as soon as possible, especially considering interest from Fenerbahçe. However, the club analyst is very wary of the player’s wages.
“I think Álvarez would be a real asset in terms of football,” Verweij begins positively. “But I’d find it very strange if the Supervisory Board didn’t support his arrival. You let Jordan Henderson leave because he earned six million euros. Now Álvarez is apparently earning even more at West Ham than Henderson did…”
Álvarez, who also played for Ajax between 2019 and 2023, reportedly earns an annual salary of €7 million at The Hammers. The English club reportedly require Ajax to bear the full responsibility for Álvarez’s salary in the event of a loan. “Then all of Kroes’s salary cuts will be negated,” Verweij observes.
“What I heard, and this surprises me most of all, is that Heitinga in particular wants Álvarez to come. And you’re renting him, right? You’re just throwing your money away. If you don’t qualify for the Champions League, you’ll lose a lot of money. I would find it absolutely insane.”
