Chelsea have no interest in strengthening rivals by offering Hakim Ziyech to Newcastle United. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
According to Evening Standard, Chelsea are reluctant to send Hakim Ziyech to Newcastle United on loan as it would strengthen their direct rivals.
Newcastle are interested in signing the Morocco international to improve their chances of finishing in the Champions League places. The player is open to leaving Stamford Bridge if the right offer comes.
But Chelsea, who are currently 10th in the league table, see the Magpies as their direct rivals in the race to finish in the top four. Hence, they don’t want to strengthen the side from the northeast by letting go of Ziyech.
Along with Newcastle, relegation struggles Everton and Italian side AS Roma are also interested in signing the former Ajax winger.
Chelsea are weighing up the option of keeping him till the summer as well. However, they are in the market to sign two more players in the January window. To do that, they need to offload players now.
It remains to be seen what the future of the 29-year-old holds like. To be fair to him, he has been in great form for us since the World Cup. So, if he stays here till the summer, it won’t be the worst decision for the club.
The point of not strengthening direct rivals is perfectly valid. Newcastle could do with bulking up their options in wide areas and Ziyech would do that and more. If Chelsea are to replace them on the table, doing these types of deals won’t help matters.
If one of Everton or Roma comes in with a strong bid, it is one for consideration. The former needs some quality to come through the door and help them in surviving relegation. Although nobody knows if the player would be willing to stoop that low in the table for regular game time.
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