Marcel van der Kraan has claimed that Chelsea playmaker and Leeds United transfer target, Hakim Ziyech, ‘isn’t suited’ to Premier League football.
The Dutch journalist told Sky Sports News that Ziyech is ‘more of a continental player’ and is better suited to joining interested party AC Milan this summer.
With Leeds set to lose Raphinha this summer, they need to replace the Brazil star in the team and Ziyech’s name has been thrown about.
Chelsea paid Ajax £33.33 million for the technical dribbler back in 2020 (Sky Sports), but it just hasn’t worked out for him at Stamford Bridge and in the Premier League.
Van der Kraan shared that Ziyech was once the ‘footballer of the year’ in Holland and despite being ‘skilful’, perhaps England’s more robust and hard-hitting league isn’t for him.
“He is more of a continental player,” said van der Kraan. “If you look at the way he is built and the way he has been playing his football over the years.
“Maybe the Premier League isn’t suited for the most skilful and attacking player. You also need to have this box-to-box mentality. You need to have that physical presence in that Premier League.
“I think Hakim Ziyech is a fantastic player. He was the footballer of the year in this country in Holland. But perhaps going to Serie A and to AC Milan is more suited for him.”
WHO WILL REPLACE RAPHINHA AT LEEDS?
After scoring 11 Premier League goals last season, and during the difficult circumstances of Leeds’ relegation battle, it’s going to take something special to replace Raphinha.
The issue with Ziyech is that he isn’t exactly in top form and he can’t afford to be indifferent in Leeds colours if they signed him.
Plus, how much would Chelsea want for the player given that they paid £30 million+ for his talents only two summers ago?
Either way, this is probably a case of the Whites having to sign a number of players that will collectively replace someone like Raphinha if he were to leave.
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