Chelsea has announced the signing of Ajax star and Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech with the winger set to arrive in the summer…
This deal has occurred in similar circumstances to Chelsea’s deal for Christian Pulisic as Ajax refused to let their talisman leave in the January transfer window as they strive to wrap up a second consecutive Erevidese title.
The deal is worth an initial £33 million with £4 million in add-ons which for a player that has long been linked to various top European sides such as Manchester United and Liverpool constitutes a bargain.
Those that are sceptical of the deal, need to refresh their memory to last season where Ajax obliterated Real Madrid with Ziyech at the heart of the demolition, as he scored 2 goals and was at his creative best carving the Los Merengues defence time and time again.
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Simply compare this deal with the one Manchester United struck with Sporting Lisbon ace Bruno Fernandes who cost the Red Devils £62M. The deal for Ziyech from a financial viewpoint is cheaper for Chelsea than the Bruno Fernandes transfer.
Ziyech actually has pedigree against top-level opposition as he proved in last season’s Champions League where he was the key reason that an upstart Ajax team surprised everyone.
Ajax were on the brink of reaching the final itself, meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes has only played in 2 Champions League qualifiers. Fernandes also lacks the versatility that Ziyech possesses who can play on both wings, as an attacking midfielder and a central midfielder.
Ziyech signing for Chelsea will mean that Lampard can use him to form part of an attacking trident with Tammy Abraham or Mason Mount, interchangeably he could play Ziyech an attacking midfielder and have Willian or Callum Hudson-Odoi play on the wings.
If Lampard was to go full blitzkrieg mode, he could have Ziyech play alongside N’Golo Kante in midfield, whilst risky defensively, it would certainly give his midfield more of an attacking impetus that it currently has.
The only question that remains is how will Ziyech adapt to the speed and physicality of the English Premier League, will he be more of a Vincent Janssen than Christian Eriksen or will it be the other way around. Only time will tell, but based on his performances in the Champions League last season and the current one especially in the 4-4 draw against Chelsea, Lampard could have a real gem of a player in his hands.