Hakim Ziyech wants to leave Chelsea in January, and Tottenham are keen on securing his services during the winter transfer window. Morocco international has fallen down the pecking order at Chelsea, and he needs to leave the Blues in order to play regular first in football....CONTINUE READING
A move to Tottenham could present him with more first-team chances, and it stays to be seen whether Spurs can agree on a fee with the London rivals for Ziyech. Hakim arrived at Stamford Bridge with massive expectations from Ajax, but he has struggled to adapt to English football.
The transfer has proven to be underwhelming for all sides so far. The 29-year-old attacker picked up only eight goals and six assists across all tournaments for the Blues last campaign. Meanwhile, Conte is desperate to add some creativity in the final third, and the arrival of the Moroccan attacker could prove to be an interesting acquisition.
Even though the Moroccan has not been able to replicate his success with Ajax in the PL, he stays a quality footballer who has proven himself in the Champions League. A world-class coach like Conte could unlock the African attacker’s potential and help him showcase his quality in the PL next campaign after his struggles at Stamford Bridge.
The Spurs manager has some impressive midfielders at their disposal, but they are severely lacking in creativity. Someone like the former Ajax attacker will help open up deep defences with his incisive passing and link-up play.
Chelsea determined to sign 6 ft 1 in Bundesliga defensive rock
New Chelsea manager Graham Potter could look to make RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol his first signing at the London club in the winter transfer window. Chelsea officially announced Graham Potter as their new manager on Thursday after he left PL rivals, Brighton.
Graham has signed a five-year contract at Chelsea and has been assured by owner Todd Boehly that he will be given funds to strengthen his squad in the new year. And it appears that Potter already has his eyes on winter, with Chelsea set to renew their interest in Croatia international.
The Blues tried to land Gvardiol over the summer. Indeed, they are said to have tabled a bid worth nearly £77m. That deal would have seen Josko stay at RB Leipzig on loan until the end of the campaign. The 20-year-old centre-back would then have linked up with the Blues in the summer of 2023.
However, Bundesliga giants were in no mood to sell late in the transfer window. That could all change in winter, however, with the Blues expected to try RB Leipzig’s resolve once again. Chelsea were said to be in advanced talks with the German club over a move for the Croatian on deadline day and reportedly submitted a whopping €90m bid.
The Croatian centre-back instead opted to renew his contract with the Bundesliga side, signing a deal until 2027, but that hasn’t put off the Blues going back in for him in winter.
Chelsea enter the battle for €35m-rated Netherlands international
Juventus will have to be wary of facing a hijack from Chelsea in the battle to add Memphis Depay from Barcelona in the winter transfer window.
The 28-year-old centre-forward has endured a frustrating spell since joining the Blaugrana in a Bosman move last summer. The Dutchman had continued from where he had left off at Lyon, starting the 2021/22 campaign strongly. But his stock has plummeted since the turn of the year, with Barcelona making a host of attacking reinforcements.
Aubameyang and Torres had already pushed the Dutch centre-forward down the pecking order in the second half of the 2021/22 season. And the former Lyon centre-forward has now become a peripheral figure for the Blaugrana at the onset of the 2022/23 campaign following the arrivals of Raphinha and Lewandowski.
Memphis has made peace with the idea of leaving the Catalan giants this summer, even though he had insisted a few weeks ago that he wants to stay at Barcelona beyond the summer transfer window. And Depay’s situation has captured the attention of Juventus and Chelsea as he looks to negotiate his exit from the Blaugrana.
The Old Lady will face stiff competition from the Blues in the battle to add Depay from the Blaugrana. Chelsea are considering stealing a march on Juventus for Memphis as they continue their search for an attacking reinforcement following the departures of Lukaku and Werner.
