AC Milan are set to send their first offer to Chelsea for winger Hakim Ziyech this summer, according to reports.
The 29-year-old, who joined Chelsea in 2020, has been linked with a move away after the Blues were suggested to be willing to listen to offers for the Moroccan, as well as Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic - both of whom have been offered as part of Chelsea's interest in Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt.
Ziyech made 44 appearances last season for Chelsea, returning eight goals and registering six assists in all competitions.
Advert
But Thomas Tuchel is set to bolster his attack with the addition of Raheem Sterling from Manchester City.
Chelsea are closing in a £45 million deal which will see Sterling sign a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
Other targets have been identified - Ousmane Dembele, who is currently a free agent, and Raphinha are both of interest they face competition from Barcelona for the attacking pair.
As a result of the incomings, outgoings in attack are expected and Ziyech has been linked with a switch to the San Siro.
As reported by Fabrizio Romano, Ziyech is open to joining the Rossoneri, which would see him link up with former Blues duo Fikayo Tomori and Olivier Giroud.
Contacts have been made between the two clubs in recent days, as added by Nathan Gissing,
Now Calciomercato report that AC Milan are readying their offer to send to the Blues.
Ziyech is at the top of their summer transfer wishlist, with AC Milan are now set to make a loan plus obligation to buy offer.
Milan want to close a deal for a total of €25 million, while the Blues want at least €5 million more.
Back in December 2021, Ziyech admitted Ziggo Sport that he was beginning to enjoy life in the capital after a difficult transition period to England, which coincided during Covid.
He said: “I think I’m starting to enjoy it more and more. When I enjoy it, I am at my best. I feel good and then everything goes by itself for me.
“(When I arrived) I didn’t underestimate the level of the Premier League, I knew it was tough. (But) I hadn’t played a game for six or seven months and during the first exhibition game I suffered an injury that kept me out for 12 weeks.
"Then you start with a huge backlog and it takes a long time before you are in top form. Whenever I started to do well again, I had another setback and I’ve had that for the past year and a half.
"Now I’m in a phase where I’m fit for quite some time and it’s up to me to make sure I stay fit.”
Topics: Hakim Ziyech, Chelsea, AC Milan, Transfers, Football
Matthew Debono