Chelsea & Ajax in standoff over Hakim Ziyech deal

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Chelsea & Ajax in standoff over Hakim Ziyech deal

Chelsea and Ajax are continuing to work on a deal which would see Hakim Ziyech return to Amsterdam. But they are currently at odds over the type of transaction, 90min understands.

The Moroccan playmaker has never really found his feet at Stamford Bridge after making the move to west London in 2020, though was part of the squad that won the 2020/21 Champions League.

Prior to his transfer to Chelsea, Ziyech rose to global fame as a key member of the young Ajax side which came within a kick of reaching the 2019 Champions League final, putting in stunning performances against the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Juventus.

90min understands that Ajax would like to re-sign Ziyech on a loan with an option to make the move permanent, and the 29-year-old is keen on returning to the Dutch capital.

However, Chelsea want to sell Ziyech or loan him with an obligatory purchase clause instead of an optional one. He has also been linked with moves to Tottenham and Manchester United this summer.

It's understood that any deal for Ziyech will not directly impact Manchester United's proposed move for Ajax winger Antony one way or the other, with the Dutch champions already seeing wingers Steven Bergwijn and Francisco Conceicao arrive this summer. Striker Brian Brobbey has also returned on a permanent deal from RB Leipzig to bolster their forward ranks.