Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech has already detailed what he considers as his best position amid Erik ten Hag's interest in bringing him to Manchester United.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News , Ten Hag, who will be determined to get his first win as United manager under his belt when his side travel to Brentford on Saturday evening, is keen to be reunited with Ziyech after they both worked together at Ajax. Ziyech left the Dutch giants in 2020 to join Chelsea, following a handful of stellar campaigns in the Netherlands.
His move to Stamford Bridge, however, has proven underwhelming, with the Moroccan struggling to have the impact that was expected of him. Making 83 appearances for the club in all competitions, the versatile attacker has scored 14 goals and grabbed just ten assists.
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Chelsea have strengthened their attacking options with the signing of Raheem Sterling this summer and are now being linked with bringing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back to the Premier League, meaning opportunities could become increasingly limited for Ziyech this season. He was an unused substitute against Everton last Saturday.
But despite Ten Hag's interest in being reunited with him, United's hierarchy have met the Dutchman's interest with a feeling of disagreement, despite being prepared to back him over his preferred targets this summer. The Reds are desperate to add to their attacking options - both out wide and through the middle - ahead of the transfer window closing at the start of next month.
United had identified Antony as their top target to strengthen their right-wing options, but Ajax have slapped an enormous price tag on the Brazilian, meaning a move is highly, highly unlikely, forcing Ten Hag to explore alternative options. And in Ziyech, he believes he may have found the ideal candidate.
Knowing the Moroccan inside out, it has the potential to be a wise move for United, with the 29-year-old, like Antony, left-footed and renowned for cutting inside. But Ziyech is also capable of playing through the middle, with a higher percentage of his Chelsea appearances coming from the attacking-midfield berth, opposed to out wide.
However, it is when coming inside off his left-foot that Ziyech believes he is at his best, describing his best position as being an inside forward. He believes the role gives you responsibility, both with and without the ball.
"It is a position where I love to play, without the ball having your responsibility but with the ball being free and trying to find space and trying to play football," Ziyech said, speaking to Chelsea's club website last year. "That is what I like the most.
"Get between the lines, find space, between the lines with the one or two touches. Especially in that position you have a lot of options because is the defender coming out, yes or no?
"If he is not coming you can turn around and find the striker or the left winger or the right winger in space. You have a lot of options."
As outlined above, United remain intent on adding to their wide options ahead of the window closing, with the addition of a right-sided winger having been a top priority throughout the summer.
However, United do hold an interest in PSV Eindhoven ace Cody Gakpo, who predominantly plays on the left. The Dutchman, however, is being tipped to be transformed into a striker over the coming years, given his goalscoring capabilities.
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