Despite speculation linking Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech with a move to German side Borussia Dortmund, it is unlikely that he will be leaving Chelsea in January.
Ziyech, Frank Lampard’s first signing after the lifting of the club’s transfer ban, has struggled for regular game time at Stamford Bridge, and he is reported to be unhappy with his lot in West London.
He began this season well and starred in their pre-season penalty shoot-out win over Villareal in the European Super League, but a shoulder injury has since hampered his progress, and he is now only just working his way back to full fitness,
However, suggestions that he could be allowed to leave on loan to the German club once the January window opens, have been described as wide of the mark by his manager Thomas Tuchel.
He insists that Ziyech remains an integral part of his squad, and that he can expect opportunities as the season progresses.
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.