Chelsea
have agreed a deal to sign Ajax's Hakim Ziyech at the end of the season
Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard has spoken regularly throughout this season
about the club's need to find a long-term replacement for Eden Hazard, and
it appears now that they have their man.
Hazard had one year remaining on his Chelsea contract when he agreed a move
to Real Madrid last summer for a fee that could reportedly rise to a
club-record transfer of £130m.
Finding an adequate replacement for the Belgian is now the club's priority
after their transfer ban was lifted ahead of the January transfer window.
Lampard spoke of the need to strengthen last month, but the window passed
without any reinforcements arriving at Stamford Bridge.
Why were Chelsea interested?
A £32m signing from Lille in 2012, Hazard made 352 appearances for Chelsea,
scoring 110 goals. He won two Premier League titles, two Europa Leagues, the
FA Cup and League Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge.
Emulating that career at Chelsea is a tall order, but it is clear that the
team are in need of additional creativity, with Pedro and Willian out of
contract this summer.
Hazard scored 16 goals and provided 15 assists last season to total 31 goal
involvements while the next most productive player was Pedro (eight goals,
two assists) and Ruben Loftus-Cheek (six goals, two assists).
It was clear last summer that Chelsea needed additional creativity, but so
far this term, only Tammy Abraham has reached double figures for league
goals (13), with Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount (five each) next on the
list.
Ziyech provides creation in abundance. No player has created more chances or
notched more assists in the Eredivise over the past three seasons - but the
Morocco international also offers firepower.
The shot map below shows the location of his shots in the league this season
and reveals how he likes to strike from range, scoring twice from outside
the box, but he can also arrive in the six-yard box to convert easier
chances.
Lampard expects inconsistency that comes with a youthful squad, and while
Chelsea are also keen on signing Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho, Ziyech
provides greater experience and Champions League pedigree.
This week, it was revealed that Chelsea recorded the highest net-profit of
any club in world football in the last two transfer windows, according to
newly published data.
They spent just €45m (around £38m) to turn Mateo Kovacic's loan from Real
Madrid into a permanent deal - but the west Londoners made a further €205m
(£173.7m) in player sales, stemming largely from the Hazard sale.
Having successfully appealed their transfer ban to the Court of Arbitration
for Sport, Chelsea have identified Ziyech to fill Hazard's boots.
'Lampard lands top Chelsea target'
Analysis from
Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol:
"The player himself wants to sign for Chelsea. He was one of Frank Lampard's
top targets last month.
"Chelsea worked very, very hard to sign him in the January transfer window,
but unfortunately Ajax insisted on keeping him because they're top of the
Dutch first division, they're in the Dutch Cup and they're in the Europa
League. They didn't want to sell him until the summer."
Ziyech, who plays predominantly on the right wing but can also play as a No
10, signed a contract with Ajax until 2022 in the summer.
The 26-year-old has scored eight goals and registered 21 assists in 29
matches across all competitions for Ajax this season.
Where would he operate at Chelsea?
Hazard caused most of his damage in Chelsea blue cutting in from his
favoured left-sided berth, shifting the ball from left to right on slaloming
runs, but it is likely that Ziyech will compete with Callum Hudson-Odoi for
a place on the right of the attack.
This is where the Dutch-born Moroccan has been played predominantly by Ajax
head coach Erik ten Hag this season and during the club's stunning run to
the Champions League semi-finals last term.
Ziyech has been exceptional in this competition for Ajax. This campaign,
only Chelsea's Willian (19) created more chances than the 26-year-old's 18.
But their failure to reach the knockout stages means they will be in the
Europa League later this month.
Last season, Ziyech was the eighth-most creative player in the Champions
League, while only Lionel Messi (35) and Neymar (32) completed more dribbles
than his 31.
He was one of the best players on the pitch when Ajax drew 4-4 at Stamford
Bridge in November - providing two assists - and he put in two eye-catching
performances in the Champions League semi-finals against Tottenham last
season.
Ajax are used to selling their best players and it was always likely that
Ziyech would leave this summer. Their loss is most certainly Chelsea's gain.
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