Chelsea are in advanced talks to sign Hakim Ziyech, with some reports suggesting that a verbal agreement is already in place with the Eredivisie side.
They were linked with a move for the Moroccan international who has already provided 12 assists and six goals this season, and even made a late bid to sign him In the January window.
That was apparently turned down but their hopes were reignited when Ajax Sporting Director Marc Overmars admitted he could leave the club if the right offer came their way. Now it seems that negotiations between the two clubs have continued, and an announcement could be made in the next few days, that he has signed a pre-contract agreement, although Ziyech will not be able to make the move until the end of the season.
Ziyech signed a new deal at the Amsterdam club only last August and a fee of £40 million may need to be paid for him.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.