Manchester United are reluctant to let Erik ten Hag rival interest from Leeds United to sign Morocco international Hakim Ziyech from Chelsea in the last weeks of the transfer market.
Man Utd reluctant to let Erik ten Hag rival Leeds for Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech
According to the Manchester Evening News, Erik ten Hag is keen to reunite with his former Ajax maestro Hakim Ziyech at Old Trafford. But Manchester United are hesitant to let their new head coach pursue a transfer for the Chelsea star before the summer sales slam shut.
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Ten Hag believes Ziyech can increase the creative potential within his Red Devils team with a late window swoop. He oversaw the 29-year-old earn a £33m move to Stamford Bridge in 2020, with Ziyech registering 35 goals and 33 assists in 100 games under the Dutch boss.
Manchester United have been happy to go along with Ten Hag’s targets since he took over in June. But the club draws a line at Ziyech, who was an unused substitute as Chelsea won 1-0 at Everton last Saturday. Even though they are open to signing players from the Blues.
Old Trafford chiefs made a last-ditch bid to lure Timo Werner to the club before the striker re-joined RB Leipzig. Manchester United were also happy to make an offer for 33-year-old forward Marko Arnautovic following discussions with Bologna over the Austrian’s transfer.
Jesse Marsch can show Old Trafford chiefs why Erik ten Hag wants Hakim Ziyech
Jesse Marsch, then, may have a chance to show the Red Devils why Ten Hag wants to sign his former playmaker. CBS journalist Ben Jacobs reports Leeds are interested in offering a path from Chelsea, where Ziyech only started 14 of his 23 Premier League games last term.
The Daily Mail also suggest it would only take £8m to buy the 40-cap international, who hit four goals and three assists in the league last term. The Evening Standard also claim Ziyech has told his lawyer to search out a new team, as he is frustrated at AC Milan’s slow pursuit.
Such a low fee can make any success Ziyech may have at Leeds make Manchester United reject not advancing Ten Hag’s interest in the Chelsea midfielder, who has already proven he can excel in the Premier League in-behind the centre-forward or also out on the right-flank.
“I think he is a fantastic player,” Ajax prospect Naci Unuvar told Voetbalzone last year. “It is not for nothing that he is so decisive at Chelsea. At Ajax, he has also done a great job. If you can look up to him, that’s great.”
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