Chelsea's hopes of receiving an £8 million windfall from the departure of Hakim Ziyech were dashed as his move to Al-Nassr fell through at the last moment. Earlier in the year, Ziyech was on the verge of joining Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window, but the deal collapsed due to late submission of official documents. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Ziyech still featured prominently for Chelsea, starting in their first game in February and making ten more Premier League appearances throughout the season.
However, Ziyech has not been immune to transfer speculation, and recent reports suggesting knee issues have prompted a response from the player himself. Taking to Instagram, he posted a picture of both his knees with a caption sarcastically questioning the validity of the claims, accompanied by two laughing face emojis.
Under new manager Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea had planned a summer exodus, resulting in the departure of ten players, including the likes of Kai Havertz and Mateo Kovacic. Two more players are expected to follow suit in the near future. Among the players Chelsea seeks to offload is Ziyech, as they aim to reduce their squad before the start of the 2023/24 season. However, finding a suitable buyer may prove challenging.
Ziyech's contract with Chelsea is set to expire in 2025, making it unlikely that the club will negotiate a renewal or secure an immediate transfer, especially considering the reservations other teams may have after Al-Nassr's medical test findings. Nevertheless, Ziyech himself has categorically dismissed any suggestions of knee problems, indicating that he considers the claims to be false.
In summary, Chelsea's plans to cash in on an £8 million windfall from Hakim Ziyech's departure were dashed when his move to Al-Nassr collapsed. Despite the failed transfer and transfer speculation surrounding him, Ziyech remained an important player for Chelsea. However, the club is determined to continue their squad revamp under Pochettino, with Ziyech among the players they intend to offload. Finding a buyer may prove difficult given the concerns surrounding his knees, but Ziyech himself has refuted these claims. As his contract runs until 2025, it remains to be seen how Chelsea will navigate Ziyech's future.