“The board”- Italian manager responds to his club being linked to Chelsea’s African star | OneFootball

Transfer News: AC Milan coach drops hint amid links to Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech

Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech has been linked with a move to AC Milan this summer, as per the Athletic (Subscription Required). And now Milan’s manager Stefano Pioli, when asked to give an update on where the board are with the negotiations, as quoted on Twitter by Fabrizio Romano, said-

The Moroccan moved to Stamford Bridge in 2020 from Ajax for £33.3million and has had trouble establishing himself as a regular first-team player. His injuries have also not helped his cause. And now he could be on his way out.

Ziyech made 23 league appearances last season, managing to score 4 and assisting 3 as the Blues finished third in the table. No longer an international for Morocco, regular playing time at Chelsea would be important for the seasoned winger.

A good move

Thomas Tuchel is overseeing a squad revamp having lost both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup last season on penalties to Liverpool. He has seen his senior players leave in Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Romelu Lukaku. Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic could leave this summer.

Meanwhile, the Blues are yet to make a signing this summer despite being linked to a ton of players, especially Raheem Sterling, Matthijs de Ligt and Nathan Ake. Sterling’s potential arrival could push Ziyech further down the pecking order and limit his playing time.

Ever since his arrival, he has struggled to gain regular minutes in the Chelsea shirt. He did not have a fixed position last season, as Thomas Tuchel used him as an attacking midfielder, left-winger and right-winger, but mainly off the bench. But now it seems he may make a move to a club that could potentially offer him more playing time.

Raheem Sterling could join Chelsea this summer. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

However, both the player and club would want to sort this fast. With the team flying to the United States on July 9 to begin their pre-season, Ziyech would want to know where he will be playing next season and join such a camp. The 29-year-old still has a lot to offer despite his limited role in London.

As for the Chelsea fans, they will likely miss the Moroccan’s dangerous crosses from the flanks in the box. Ziyech, meanwhile, could have the chance to resurrect his career and could do so at another big European club.

Milan are back to being a giant in Italy. They came close to winning the title in recent years and finally ended their Scudetto drought last season. For the Blues, this comes as a chance to cash in on a player who isn’t a regular starter in their lineup.