Serie A champions AC Milan are reportedly growing increasingly confident of sealing a deal for Chelsea playmaker Hakim Ziyech this summer.
With an exit apparently sanctioned, Hakim Ziyech’s time at Stamford Bridge appears to be drawing to an end, finally. That is according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who claims the Serie A giants are in direct contact with Chelsea over signing Ziyech since last week, ironing out favourable terms for the Moroccan playmaker.
Romano has also added that the Serie A champions now have confidence that they will bring the 29-year-old, who may now be available on a loan-to-buy basis, to San Siro during this transfer window.
The Morocco international joined the Blues from Ajax in 2020 for around £36 million but has largely struggled under both Frank Lampard and Thomas Tuchel since then. Ziyech has not quite hit his best form during his two years with Chelsea.
Injuries have not helped his case, but he was constantly in and out of the Chelsea starting XI as well, making just 15 Premier League starts in his first season and 14 over the last campaign, chipping in with six league goals and six assists for the Blues.
AC Milan are in direct contact with Chelsea for Hakim Ziyech since last week. Milan are getting confident as Ziyech’s absolutely open to join the club. ? #ACMilan
Chelsea and Milan are discussing of the potential formula of the deal. @SkySport pic.twitter.com/v1glXXBOzb
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 1, 2022
Last season was a slightly better one as Ziyech made 44 appearances across all competitions, scoring eight goals and providing six assists in all competitions. Still, the west Londoners were expecting a better return over the course of his stay, and with him not featuring in Thomas Tuchel’s long-term plans, they are willing to let him leave this summer if a deal can be struck.
AC Milan are hot on his heels, with Stefano Pioli pinning the Chelsea playmaker as his top attacking target for the summer. The Serie A giants have held vital talks with the Blues over the right formula for the deal and are now set to make a loan offer.
Pioli is looking for a player who can play both as a No. 10 and as a right-winger in the attacking trio, thus compensating for Milan’s lack of quality in these areas this past season. To that end, a host of names have been linked with the Rossoneri, but Ziyech seems to be the most viable target.
Ziyech is an extremely talented and versatile attacker with a wand of a left foot. And while the intensity of the Premier League has not suited his style of play, he still showed flashes of his brilliance in key moments and could be a big hit in San Siro.
One of Chelsea’s priorities this summer is to sign goalscoring wingers. They have been linked with a number of players, including Raheem Sterling, Ousmane Dembele, and Raphinha. Offloading Ziyech could help fund these deals, and with the player also keen to depart for improved first-team opportunities, it makes sense for the Blues to part ways with the former Ajax man.
