TBR View: Should Celtic reconsider Edson Alvarez, after Tottenham’s reported bid?

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Last summer, Celtic were strongly linked with a move for Mexican ace Edson Alvarez but the defender chose to chance his arm at last season’s Champions League semi-finalists Ajax. Now, Celtic may find they have a second chance to sign Alvarez.

According to ESPN, Scottish champions Celtic offered £5.2 million to sign Alvarez from Club America. The 22-year-old defender chose Ajax instead of Celtic, and has since clocked up 23 appearances for the Dutch outfit.

However, the Mexico international is very much a back-up player for Ajax. Indeed, he has featured in just three of Ajax’s last 13 league games – remaining an unused substitute for the other 10 Eredivisie games.

It has seen Alvarez become frustrated at Ajax. Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf have claimed that Tottenham and LA Galaxy tried to sign the defender in the January window, but were blocked in their approach.

However, the report claims Alvarez could leave Ajax despite offers from Tottenham and LA Galaxy being rejected by director of football Marc Overmars. It is claimed that Ajax may have to accept offers less than the £13million they paid for Alvarez.

Surely, then, Celtic should re-enter the market for Alvarez given that they may now have a second chance to land their man. Indeed, Alvarez could be the man to replace Scott Brown in the middle of the park – and offer cover at centre-back.

If Ajax are willing to sell in the summer, which the report suggests, then surely they need to re-enter the market for Alvarez – especially given he would be available for a smaller fee than the one Ajax paid.

It is a second chance Neil Lennon cannot pass up.