Chelsea
Premier League • England
Chelsea greenlight attacker’s sale for huge loss, with Aston Villa, Newcastle among four ready to pounce
Chelsea are open to selling a high profile attacker at a huge loss in the coming days, and three Premier League sides are scrapping with a Serie A powerhouse for his signature, per reports.
The Blues have once again been the biggest spenders in Europe this window, with particular focus given to their forward line.
Joao Felix has arrived on a six-month loan, while Noni Madueke, David Datro Fofana and the wildly impressive Mykhailo Mudryk all joined on permanent deals. Mudryk had an all-star pundit trio going crazy after his debut off the bench against Liverpool last week.
A deal that’ll bring Christopher Nkunku to Stamford Bridge over the summer has also been agreed. As such, Graham Potter’s forward ranks are filled to the brim.
Exits are therefore inevitable, with Kai Havertz among those being linked with a departure later in 2023. However, today’s update regards Moroccan playmaker Hakim Ziyech.
The 29-year-old arrived with a reputation as an assist king when Chelsea paid Ajax €44m (approx. £38m at current exchange rate – also including add-ons) back in 2020.
Ziyech has shown flashes, though has struggled to make the same level of impact he did in Amsterdam.
As such, the trusted Gianluca Di Marzio now reports Chelsea are open to his exit. What’s more, they’re prepared to sell at a massively-discounted rate.
Ziyech to go on the cheap?
Di Marzio’s website claimed Chelsea are only interested in a sale – not a loan – and have set a price of €20m (approx. £17.6m).
From Italy, Milan and Roma are interested, though the former cannot afford a permanent move and as such, are likely out of the race.
It’s a different story for Jose Mourinho’s Roma who could soon require a replacement for Nicolo Zaniolo.
The Italy international was on Tottenham’s radar, though they’ve since signed Arnaut Danjuma on loan.
Even if that completed move has ended Spurs’ interest, a surprise switch to Bournemouth could take shape. The Cherries are plotting a club-record swoop, per Fabrizio Romano.
Aside from Roma’s interest, three Premier League sides are also on Ziyech’s trail.
Aston Villa, Newcastle, Everton all circling
The Telegraph claimed Newcastle are showing ‘strong’ interest in the event they miss out on Everton’s Anthony Gordon.
Sky Sports put Everton in the mix on January 25 and their Danjuma near-miss has put the Toffees back in the market for attacking reinforcements. Aside from Ziyech, they’re also mulling a move for Kamaldeen Sulemana of Rennes, though aren’t the only Prem side interested.
Sky even claimed Everton would be prepared to pay £25m for Ziyech, which given Di Marzio’s revelation about Chelsea’s valuation, would make a deal extremely easy to make between the clubs.
Convincing Ziyech to sign up for a relegation battle might be a different story, however.
Finally, Aston Villa are a contender for Ziyech, according to the Athletic. Unai Emery is gunning for high profile attacking additions and could ramp up a move for Ziyech with fellow attacking target, Gerard Deulofeu, now requiring surgery to fix an ACL injury.
A Ziyech exit certainly appears one to watch in the window’s final days. If the classy playmaker does depart, he may not have far to travel to his new club.