Manchester United’s summer transfer business, which was slowly turning out to be a summer of reunion for their new boss Erik ten Hag could be reportedly put to an end. The former Ajax manager wants Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech, who was under his command at the Eredivisie club.
United have already splashed a massive £50 million fee on acquiring Ajax center-back Lisandro Martinez as per the demands of Ten Hag. The Red Devils are also in talks to sign Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong who was once Ten Hag’s ‘blue-eyed boy’ at Ajax. However, the club is not convinced over signing Ziyech in another reunion for their manager.
Ten Hag and United at crossroads over Hakim Ziyech move
Chelsea have put their outcast Hakim Ziyech on a sale after his move from Ajax has failed to reap rewards from them. The winger was snapped up in a £36 million deal from the Dutch champions, after he put on spectacular numbers for the club. Ziyech amassed a whopping 80 assists, and netted 49 goals in just 164 appearances for Ajax.
However, his Chelsea transfer in the summer of 2020 hasn’t worked till date since Ziyech has managed a mere 14 goals and 10 assists in 83 games so far. Moreover, the availability of multiple options in Christian Pulisic, Kai Havertz, Timo Werner further presented Ziyech with only 29 starts in his 83 games so far.
The Blues have now landed Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling who operates on the same flank as Ziyech which has further pushed him towards an exit. And according to multiple reports, Chelsea are ready to let him go for just £8 million.
Erik ten Hag sees this as an excellent opportunity to snatch the player who scored 35 goals and racked up 53 assists in 100 games under his management. However, United feel Ziyech has been unable to deliver in the Premier League and is a huge risk even for £8m.
But French-based journalist Nabil Djellit reports that Ten Hag has marked Hakim Ziyech as ‘one of his priorities’ this summer, alongside Frenkie de Jong. On the other hand, Italy journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Ziyech is in advanced talks with AC Milan for a switch to San Siro.
Ten Hag is now struggling to get one of his another former associates Ziyech at United, after De Jong rejected a move. While United have agreed a £63 million deal in principle with Barcelona for De Jong, the player himself does not fancy a move to Old Trafford.