Arsenal are reportedly in pole position to land Ajax’s £25 million rated attacker Hakim Ziyech, who is also a Manchester United target.
According to a report by talkSPORT, Arsenal are the favourites in the race to sign Hakim Ziyech in the summer transfer window. The Ajax forward, who will cost a mere £25 million, is also being chased by the Gunners’ Premier League rivals Manchester United.
Hakim Ziyech has become a force to be reckoned with over the three years that he has been with Ajax. But, the last two seasons, in particular, have seen the Moroccan international become a major influential figure at the club, having also been named as their Player of the Year at the end of each of the two campaigns.
It was another fine campaign for Hakin Ziyech, who played a key role in @AFCAjax‘s title success — With a fine average rating of 8.54, the Moroccan sensation is our Eredivisie player of the season
For more player stats — https://t.co/NMUIY82I6N pic.twitter.com/zVN1CyxzJT
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) May 16, 2019
The latest campaign saw him record his best ever tally as a senior footballer, with Ziyech boasting a return of 21 goals and 24 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions. Naturally, the player is now being tailed by some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Manchester United and Arsenal.
Manchester United are set for a summer of rebuild with several positions that need some serious reinforcements. One long-standing problem though, pertains to the right wing slot, which has been a true Achilles heel for the Red Devils in recent seasons, one for which Ziyech can possibly be a solution.
Arsenal too, have a problem in the wide areas, albeit on both the flanks. The Gunners are bereft of a single natural wide option, which has ultimately affected their attacking output on a number of occasions. Ziyech is thus, a viable target, who could provide the best years of his career to them.
Manchester United, Arsenal and other possible suitors recently received a major boost in pursuit of the 26-year-old, who will be allowed to leave the club in the summer. What further makes Ziyech an attractive target is his £25 million valuation.
But, Arsenal seem to be in pole position to land the Ajax superstar, with the report suggesting that he prefers a move to the North London club, citing comments from 2017, which also saw him name Mesut Ozil as his idol. So, with Champions League football already not on offer, the player’s preference of clubs is making Ziyech’s chase an impossible one for Manchester United.
A move for Ziyech would also serve Arsenal’s purpose, with Gunners being miserly in their spending lately, when compared to a possible big money pursuit of Wilfried Zaha. It now remains to be seen if Manchester United can pull themselves back into contention, or are forced to turn their attention elsewhere.
