Former Holland striker Rene van der Gijp feels for Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez after he was blocked from joining Chelsea.

The Blues had a €50m bid for the Mexico international turned down on deadline day.

Van der Gijp said: “I would have let that Álvarez go for fifty million. Also for that boy himself.

“That boy can earn ten times more there. A Mexican who plays for Chelsea. Then you get a status… And there they are now crazy. They have that new owner, who is totally insane. They started badly and then he wants to buy Álvarez as a backup for (N'Golo) Kanté. Only because he is injured. Such an opportunity does not come again, not only in terms of money, but also in terms of club. Then you must let him go.

"If you can earn seven million at Ajax in two years, and fifty at Chelsea in five years… You can't do that to a boy like that."