Sources: Chelsea re-enter talks with Saudis over Hakim Ziyech transfer, with second Blues flop also approached
Hakim Ziyech in action for Chelsea against Watford
Chelsea have re-opened talks with the Saudi Pro League over a deal for winger Hakim Ziyech, TEAMtalk understands.
The 30-year-old has not been included in Chelsea’s pre-season tour of the United States. Chelsea chiefs have told him to find a new club as he is not in the plans of new boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Ziyech was hoping to sign for Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window, only for the move to fall through. Chelsea were subsequently accused of sending the wrong paperwork on three separate occasions.
Ziyech had also been hoping to link up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr earlier this summer, but that transfer failed to reach completion as well.
However, TEAMtalk has been told that Chelsea are now back in discussions with the Saudis as they look to offload Ziyech.
The Pro League, now overseen by former Chelsea director Michael Emenalo, are keen to take the Morocco star to the Middle East and Al Nassr have maintained their interest in him.
Ziyech is not the only Chelsea outcast who might follow N’Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy to Saudi Arabia. TEAMtalk understands that Emenalo is also speaking to Chelsea about Romelu Lukaku, which is a deal the Blues are open to.
Romelu Lukaku also wanted by Saudi chief
Lukaku, who has seen a permanent return to Inter Milan collapse, is unsure about moving to Saudi Arabia as he ideally wants to continue playing at a high level in Europe. But Emenalo is confident he can persuade the Belgian to head to the Pro League.
Both Ziyech and Lukaku leaving would take Chelsea’s mass exodus to an incredible 13 senior players. Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Christian Pulisic and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are just some of the names who have joined new teams in recent weeks.
