AC Milan’s pursuit of Hakim Ziyech has been handed a boost as Chelsea decided to put their underperforming winger up for sale, claims Fabrizio Romano.
After winning their first Scudetto since 2010/11, the Rossoneri have turned their attention towards the upcoming transfer window.
Stefano Pioli is in the market for a new forward, particularly in light of Rafael Leao’s uncertain future at San Siro.
Although the parties kick-started extension talks in March, there has been no breakthrough in negotiations thus far, with several Premier League sides eyeing up summer moves for the Portuguese star.
The newly-crowned Serie A champions, who are poised to tie their headline performer down to a new contract, will intensify talks with Leao’s agent, Jorge Mendes, in the coming weeks.
But while the 22-year-old earned a flattering MVP award for a stellar season, other Milan forwards, including Ante Rebic and Alexis Saelemaekers, failed to live up to the billing.
With battles on multiple fronts awaiting Pioli’s side next season, the Rossoneri technical director Paolo Maldini is already searching for reinforcements to hand his manager a competitive squad.
Ziyech has emerged as a potential candidate to strengthen Milan’s attacking department after failling to live up to his €40m transfer fee at Chelsea.
The 29-year-old joined the Blues from Ajax in 2020 as one of the most highly-rated wingers in Europe on the back of his eye-catching four-year stint in Amsterdam.
But he has failed to settle at Stamford Bridge and could soon wave goodbye to west London after Chelsea decided to cash in on him.
Ziyech has had a fringe role under Thomas Tuchel, finding himself below Kai Havertz, Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic in the pecking order.
So the player himself could embrace the prospect of moving to Serie A to reignite his faltering career.
Yet, Milan are not alone in the race for the Moroccan’s services.
Perennial Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are also in the mix, while Borussia Dortmund are contemplating launching a loan bid to take Ziyech to Germany.
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