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Hakim Ziyech is not in Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea plans for next season as optimism in signing for AC Milan increases, according to reports.
The 29-year-old winger could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge this summer with the Blues ready to listen to offers for the Moroccan.
Having signed in 2020 from Ajax for £33.3 million, he has not quite lived up to the hopes all concerned had for him.
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Ziyech registered 44 appearances in all competitions last season, tallying up eight goals and six assists, helping Chelsea lift both the Super Cup and Club World Cup.
Despite popping up in crucial moments, such as his last gasp winner against Crystal Palace and his wonder strike against Tottenham Hotspur, last season was a rather inconsistent one and he never nailed down a starting position.
Consequently, he does not look to have a place in Tuchel’s plans for the upcoming campaign.
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Chelsea have been looking to bolster their attack this summer and their first signing is nearing completion.
Raheem Sterling is believed to have agreed a four-year contract with the Blues and will become the highest paid player at the club following Romelu Lukaku’s departure to Inter Milan.
The deal will be worth an initial £45 million and Sterling will see a raise in his current £300,000-a-week deal with Manchester City.
Chelsea have also had plenty of interest elsewhere, free agent Ousmane Dembele has been on their radar all summer and Leeds United star Raphinha is a target, but they face competition from Barcelona.
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This could see Ziyech forced out. AC Milan are the potential suitors for Ziyech, and it was previously reported they want to close a deal for €25 million, but Chelsea value the tricky winger higher than that.
As reported by Gianluca Di Marzio though, Milan now have increased optimism around completing the transfer.
It is believed a deal could be done very soon.
Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Ziyech is open to a move which would see him link up with former teammates Olivier Giroud and Fikayo Tomori.
He could have also been playing with French midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko who joined Chelsea back in 2017 and has been on loan with AC Milan the past two years.
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Recent reports suggest that there is ‘no place’ in the squad for the 27-year-old who collected a Serie A winners’ medal last season.
Ziyech is reportedly at the top of Milan’s transfer list this summer and they are ‘getting confident’ that a deal could be struck very soon.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Hakim Ziyech, Chelsea, AC Milan, Thomas Tuchel