Ajax are reportedly leading the race to sign Chelsea outcast Hakim Ziyech, with AC Milan’s interest in the Moroccan dissipating.
According to journalist Rudy Galetti, AFC Ajax have emerged as the leaders in the race to sign Chelsea playmaker Hakim Ziyech this summer, with the 29-year-old out of favour at Stamford Bridge.
Ziyech joined Chelsea in the summer of 2020 from Ajax. His signing was met with a lot of anticipation and excitement, but injuries and a lack of consistent run in the side have meant that the Moroccan playmaker has failed to make a mark in west London. Having found game-time hard to come by under Thomas Tuchel, he has been heavily linked with an exit this summer.
A move to AC Milan had been touted, with there being regular contacts between the Serie A champions and Ziyech’s camp over a possible transfer. However, those talks have died down since, with Ajax now emerging as the leading candidates to sign the 29-year-old Moroccan ace.
Ziyech spent four successful years at Ajax, having arrived from FC Twente in the summer of 2016. He made 165 appearances for the Dutch giants, racking up a return of 49 goals and 81 assists before moving to Chelsea. However, he could now make his way back to the Johan Cruyff Arena.
?❌ #ACMilan–#Ziyech, in recent weeks there has been no contact with #Chelsea for the ?? player. ?⚫
? #Ajax now are leading the race and want to speed up things to finalize his return to ??. ?⚽#Calciomercato #Milan #Transfers #CFC pic.twitter.com/R1O2VpW0Vc
— Rudy Galetti (@RudyGaletti) August 19, 2022
Speaking during an interview in December last year, Ziyech had admitted that he would be open to returning to Ajax in the future, stating: “I would love to (return). I had a fantastic time there. It’s a place where I have felt at home, and whether it will ever happen, the future will tell. But, if it is up to me, it will definitely happen.
“That’s (a transfer) not up to me; I leave that to them. I just try to enjoy every day now and do my thing. What the future brings, we’ll see then. But, like I said, I hope it happens one day. Whether it will happen is not up to me.”
Ziyech could potentially be seen as a replacement for Brazilian winger Antony, who continues to be linked heavily with a move to Manchester United this summer, even though Ajax have turned down massive bids for him already.
