According to Sky Sports, Chelsea are close to agreeing a £38million fee to sign Ajax winger Hakim Ziyech this summer. The deal is reportedly set to be completed in the next couple of days. Ziyech was believed to be the Blues primary transfer target in the January transfer window, but Ajax did not want to sell midway through the season.
Chelsea need an experienced attacking midfielder
Chelsea has not added to their squad in the last two transfers windows due to a ban and January being a notoriously bad month to sign top-quality players. However, Ziyech would be a quality signing and in an area that they are short of experience.
The Blues have a number of highly-rated young attacking midfielders in Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi. However, all three players are still raw and developing. They also have the highly inconsistent Ross Barkley within their squad.
Spanish winger Pedro has been in and out of the team this season, mostly out. The former Barcelona star is out of contract this summer. Meanwhile, Brazilian winger Willian’s contract also runs out in the summer and he is reportedly a target for reigning Spanish champions Barcelona.
Ziyech would add some top-level experience in the attacking midfield positions, which could be vital for next season’s Premier League campaign. The fact that he can play on the right-wing and as a number ten adds to appear.
Ziyech a shrewd signing
In these days of crazy transfer fees, a fee of around £38million for an attacking midfield with recent experience in the Champions League looks to be a shrewd signing. At 26 years of age, the Moroccan international is a player in his prime. He impressed last season in the Ajax team that reached the Champions League semi-final, only to suffer late heartbreak at the hands of Tottenham.
However, last season’s form was certainly not a one-off, as he has thrived this season for the Dutch giants. In fact, Ziyech has already scored eight times and produced a superb 21 assists in 29 appearances in all competitions this season.
Ziyech has the skill and guile to make it in the Premier League. He is not scared of hard work and should be able to cope with the physical aspect of the English top-flight. He seems to have all the attributes to become a very good signing for the Blues.
Chelsea set to be busy this summer
After the transfer ban of last summer, understandably Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard will be keen to add fresh additions to his playing squad for next season. It seems certain that Ziyech will not be the only big-money arrival at Stamford Bridge in the summer.
The Blues are being heavily linked with a big-money move for Dortmund’s England winger Jadon Sancho. Reports from Germany suggest that the starlet will leave BVB this summer. His outstanding displays have attracted interested from many of the Premier League’s top clubs, with Manchester United and Liverpool believed to be monitoring the winger’s situation.
The team from south west London are also looking at alternatives to out-of-form goalkeeper Kepa. Ziyech’s teammate Andre Onana and Burnley’s Nick Pope are two of the names doing the rounds in the media.
Whoever Chelsea plans to sign, it would be easier for the Blues if they were in the Champions League next season. Lampard’s team are currently odds of 1/2 to finish the Premier League top-four this season.Next season could be a highly intriguing one for Chelsea. Things are looking good for Lampard and his team. They could be looking even better with Shrewd recruitment this summer.
Would Hakim Ziyech be a good signing for Chelsea?
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