Chelsea could agree the signing of Ajax midfielder Hakim Ziyech in the next few days, according to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf.
The Moroccan playmaker had been tipped as a potential replacement for Christian Eriksen, with former Spurs and Ajax player Rafael van der Vaart even personally recommending him to Daniel Levy.
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There was some hope that Spurs would move for the 26-year-old in the summer, now that Eriksen has left for Inter Milan, but De Telegraaf understand that Chelsea are closing in on a £38m deal.
These Spurs fans on Twitter are doubly disappointed to be missing out on Ziyech – “the perfect Eriksen replacement” – to a direct rival.
Seems chelsea are signing ziyech… I’ve wanted him at spurs for over a year now so I can’t even act like it’s a dumb signing.
— Jack (@JRG91802) February 12, 2020
Why are Spurs not hijacking that Ziyech deal? Perfect Eriksen replacement? #THFC
— George Hopcraft (@hopcraft_george) February 12, 2020
After 5 years of telling everyone how good Ziyech is and how good he would be at Spurs, I now have to sit and watch him play for arch rivals Chelsea 🤦♂️To be fair, excellent signing for them. Watch him light up the PL. 38m is a bargain. He’s top class. Fair play to them.
— Harvey (@Namdalla1993) February 12, 2020
Ziyech going to chelsea 😭 makes me very sad cause he’s a top baller and I wanted spurs to get him, not a rival
— CharlieTastic (@charlesville97) February 12, 2020
Chelsea getting Ziyech….
— Richard Savva (@SpursSavva) February 12, 2020
What a top signing.
I wanted Ziyech at Spurs 😢
— James Pagan (@Pagan_Official) February 12, 2020
Ziyech has 21 assists in 29 matches for Ajax this season, so seems more suited to fill the creative void that Eriksen has left behind than January signing Steven Bergwijn, who is more in the speedy winger category.
Bergwijn is far more suited to Jose Mourinho’s style than Ziyech, who may have been an ideal Eriksen successor, but only under the previous regime.
Just another top player to pass us by.Same old,same old.