Swansea City are the Premier League’s second lowest goalscorers but that would change if they finally landed Ziyech from Eredivisie giants Ajax.
Ajax must have been pinching themselves in the summer of 2016 when they completed the signing of Hakim Ziyech from Eredivisie rivals FC Twente. They must have thought they were dreaming, too, with the Dutch playmaker remaining in Amsterdam beyond the close of the most recent transfer window.
After all, Ajax are used to losing their star men year in year out. Only last summer, Davinson Sanchez, Jairo Riedewald, Kenny Tete and captain Davy Klaassen departed the Eredivisie for supposedly bigger and better things in larger European leagues.
Ziyech, however, stayed for a second season. This is despite The Chronicle reporting in March that Newcastle United had placed the club’s creative fulcrum on their shortlist ahead of the transfer window.
So what is all the fuss about? Well, Ziyech was arguably the Eredivisie’s finest footballer during his final season at a struggling Twente side, displaying Dimitri Payet levels of influence by either creating something out of nothing or walloping a thunderbolt into the top corner from any available angle.
Siggy’s successor
And Ziyech only took his game to another level when making the step up to Ajax. He scored seven times and assisted another 11 as Peter Bosz’ side finished second behind Feyenoord and was possibly their stand-out player in the run to the Europa League final, inspiring wondrous wins over Schalke and Lyon.
No wonder Newcastle were keen. Though if one club is crying out for Ziyech, it’s Swansea City.
Calciomercato reported that The Swans were interested before the 24-year-old completed his move to the Amsterdam ArenA and, with Paul Clement’s side lacking in identity and inspiration, they should not wait around to renew their interest, even if January will be the earliest they can do business.
The Swans have picked up just five points from seven games this season and scored three goals in that time, a tally only ‘bettered’ by Crystal Palace. Ziyech, however, is the perfect replacement for Gylfi Sigurdsson and the key to getting the best out of a talented yet service-starved strike-force of Tammy Abraham and Wilfried Bony.
Ziyech’s price-tag will have gone up in the last year but, to Swansea, this type of creativity is priceless.
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