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Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech has submitted a formal transfer request.
The Moroccan has a contract at Stamford Bridge until 2025, but he is frustrated about his lack of first-team minutes under Thomas Tuchel after falling down the pecking order last season.
He was Frank Lampard’s first signing from Ajax in 2020, but could now be set to leave less than two years into his stay in West London.
Already there is interest from AC Milan, who are reported to have opened talks with the Blues.
The Serie A club have had Ziyech on their radar for some time, but his current situation means they are increasingly confident that they can finally sign him.
For their part, Chelsea would prefer a loan deal with an option to buy, rather than an outright sale this summer, although, as ever when it comes to a Premier League club and those from another league, Ziyech’s wages of over £5 million a year remain a potential stumbling block.
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.