Ajax's Hakim Ziyech was selected as one of the 20 best players in the UEFA Champions League for the 2018–19 season. (Getty Images)
According to a report in Italian outlet Calciomercato, Premier League giants Chelsea are interested in signing Ajax’s attacking midfielder Hakim Ziyech. Maurizio Sarri’s men have been closely watching the Moroccan international and may make the swoop in the summer transfer window.
The Eredivisie side signed the player from FC Twente back in 2016, for a fee around €11m. Since then, the midfielder has been a star in the team, helping them to reach the Europa League finals the same year. (Dutch News)
He has been on fire this season, scoring 12 goals and supplying nine assists in 19 league appearances, which is beyond fantastic for a player who at times operates at right wing, or as a wide midfielder.
After selling Frenkie de Jong to Barcelona, it will be interesting to see whether Ajax let go of their another gem this summer.
Regardless, here’s why Chelsea should do everything in their might to sign Hakim Ziyech in few months time:
After making a promising start to life under Maurizio Sarri, things have unraveled quickly in the negative direction for Chelsea, since the festive period. They are neither able to create enough chances to score goals in games, and are also conceding for fun, especially in away games.
While an embarrassment at Bournemouth and a pounding at the hands of Manchester City in quick succession was a disaster, the performance against Manchester United told us a worrying story regarding this team and its progress.
Being the home team, Chelsea struggled to create chances in a cup tie against a United team, who are susceptible at the back, in spite of their resurgence under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The dependence on Eden Hazard to do everything in the final third is palpable, and it is hurting this team big time. Willian and Pedro have been average at best for quite some time now and need replacing in the summer window.
Getting Hakim Ziyech would be some swoop for Chelsea, if they manage to do it. In their current desperate situation, they must make a move for the Moroccan international happen.
The 25-year-old can shoulder a good amount of creativity responsibilities and contribute in the final third with a better effect. Other than his 12 goals and nine assists, the Ajax man has made key passes at the rate of 4.2 per game in the league, which is simply world-class, to say the least.
He has dribbled past defenders 2.8 times in a game and doesn’t shy away from having a pop at goal and testing the opposition goalkeeper. The attacking midfielder-cum-winger has so far attempted shots at an average of 5.4 in one game. (Whoscored.com)
Hakim Ziyech is a high-quality player who, at the moment, is better than Pedro and Willian. Hence, Chelsea can solve their right wing issues by signing the Ajax star in the summer window.
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