Chelsea Close To Finalizing £38m Ziyech Deal
Chelsea are reportedly closing in on a deal for Ajax’s Hakim Ziyech for a reported sum of £38million once the summer transfer window opens up.
The African looks to be Frank Lampard’s first signing at the Stamford Bridge with the English gaffer looking to bolster his options in the attack.
According to a report by Goal, the Blues made enquiries about the Moroccan in January and even tried to sign him but the Eredivise giants insisted the winger was only available for transfer in the summer.
There are still ongoing talks between both teams, but it is understood that both parties are close to finalising a deal with the player set to agree personal deals soonest.
If the deal goes through as expected, Ziyech would go down as Frank Lampard’s first signing since making his way to West London.
Lampard, a Chelsea legend during his playing days was unable to secure any signings during his first summer in charge of the club owing to a FIFA-imposed transfer ban.
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The Blues fought to have the ban halved at the Court of Arbitration for Sports but Lampard’s frustration increased when the club still failed to sign any fresh legs.
Chelsea though tried to sign the duo of Paris Saint Germain’s Edinson Cavani and Napoli’s Dries Mertens with the pair set to run out their contracts at the end of the campaign as the English boss looked to bolster his attacking options.
However, the London Blues couldn’t sign any, leaving Lampard with only Michy Batshuayi and Olivier Giroud as the only competition for Tammy Abraham upfront.
The 46-year-old gaffer will be hoping that Chelsea sign the Ajax winger who promises a lot of attacking returns having impressed since his switch from Twente in 2016.
Ziyech has found the net an outstanding 48 times in 159 appearances and providing as many as 82 assists in that same number of games.
