AC Milan continue to be linked with a move for Hakim Ziyech and he could well be the right man at the right time, according to a report.
This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (via PianetaMilan) talks about how Ziyech has played very little in the first part of the season with Chelsea having racked up just 271 minutes across nine appearances in the Premier League, Champions League and League Cup.
However, he has made a big comeback with Morocco at the World Cup in Qatar as he has been a key part of the side that has probably been the story of the tournament, reaching the quarter-finals by beating Belgium and Spain along the way.
Ziyech moved from Ajax to Chelsea in 2020 for over €40m but was not experiencing his best moment in London. Now he has been reborn in Doha, and Milan are now doing their evaluations in the hope of signing him in January.
A paid loan and an option to buy for around €15m is what Milan are thinking of offering, and the paper writes that it would be a fair amount given that he has been lacking consistency in his performances at times.
The difficulties of De Ketelaere and the need to make the right wing more competitive have now prompted Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara to probe Ziyech’s willingness to transfer to Milan and Chelsea’s to sell him.
The Premier League side are happy to sell but could slightly raise their requests because of his showing at the World Cup, but in return Milan might be getting a player who offers more guarantees.
He has played like a leader with Morocco and he also seemed more involved in their defensive phase too. Of course, he will never be a winger who keeps going up and down the flank, but his ability to cover passing lines and track back were noticed.
Then, at the other end he creates numerical superiority, serves his team-mates, shows imagination and has a fierce shot. In short, a player who can be of great use to Milan in the second half of the season.
