Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has responded to the suggestion that the Red Devils should move for Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech during the summer transfer window. The Moroccan was a star at Ajax under Ten Hag's guidance in the Netherlands but has struggled to cement himself as a regular in west London.
Thomas Tuchel has struggled to find a place for Ziyech in his starting XI this season with the likes of Kai Havertz, Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi all competing for those wide positions. He has not started any of the Blues' last seven Premier League games, sparking rumours that he could be moved on in the summer.
But he may not be moving far if a transfer does come to fruition. Earlier this week, Netherlands legend Marco van Basten suggested that his compatriot Ten Hag should consider taking the 29-year-old to Old Trafford with the Ajax boss set to take charge of United next season.
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"What comes to my mind now is that I think Ziyech, who already plays in England, could be a very good footballer at Manchester United for Erik," Van Basten told Ziggo Sport on Monday.
Chelsea are facing a hectic summer in the transfer window with a number of recruits needed in defence and midfield. But there is also the possibility that at least one of Tuchel's current attacking unit could leave as well. Back in November, however, the German was not entertaining the possibility of losing Ziyech.
"There are no thoughts about a potential change, swap deal or whatever in the winter," Tuchel told his press conference back in November. "I have talked to nobody about that here in Cobham.
"Hakim was not in my office expressing a wish like this so right now, he is a full member of the squad. He is an important guy, a very talented guy, a very ambitious guy, and he’s a full part of our squad. He was last season, he is this season and we expect the very best of him all the time."
During his time at Ajax, Ziyech scored 49 goals and provided 81 assists so it is easy to see why he has been touted for a reunion with Ten Hag in the North West. When the question was put to the incumbent United manager, he remained coy on the possibility.
"Of course this was already the case at Ajax," he said while appearing on the same show as Van Basten. "You take that in and then you have to continue to work well with the dressing room and with people within the club. You have to analyse well and make the right choices."
