Chelsea midfielder Hakim Ziyech has reportedly been heavily linked with a return to his former club Ajax this summer, but a deal has hit a snag.
According to a report from De Telegraaf, Ajax were eyeing up a move for the Chelsea playmaker Hakim Ziyech as a potential replacement for Antony. However, Chelsea’s demands could force Ajax to abandon their pursuit of the 29-year-old Moroccan midfielder.
Chelsea paid a fee of around €40 million for Ziyech when they signed him from Ajax, and they want to recoup a similar amount this summer. However, Ziyech’s former club were hoping to sign the Moroccan on a loan deal, and they are unlikely to be able to afford Chelsea’s asking price.
Furthermore, the 29-year-old is on considerable wages, and Ajax are unlikely to break their wage structure to accommodate him. It seems that Ajax are unwilling to let Antony leave unless a replacement is found, and therefore Manchester United’s chances of landing the Brazilian hangs in the balance for now.
Ziyech has had a tough time in the Premier League with Chelsea, and he needs to leave in order to kickstart his career. The 29-year-old had four goals and three assists in 23 league appearances last season.
A return to Amsterdam could be ideal for him, and the Chelsea playmaker would get to regain his confidence and form with regular football at Ajax. However, the finances involved have complicated any potential move to his former club and it remains to be seen how the situation develops over the next few days.
Meanwhile, Manchester United are keen on signing Antony from Ajax, but the Dutch outfit’s inability to secure a proper replacement could scupper their chances. The Brazilian winger has been a key player for Ajax over the past year, and Manchester United are hoping to bring him in after submitting their latest bid to strengthen their attacking unit.
The likes of Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho were quite inconsistent last season, and Erik ten Hag needs to bring in more quality and depth. Antony has the potential to succeed in the Premier League and develop into a key player for the Red Devils. However, it seems that Manchester United could be left empty-handed in their pursuit of the 22-year-old winger as Ziyech’s return from Chelsea is falling through.