Chelsea boss Graham Potter insists Hakim Ziyech ‘must be patient’ despite a brilliant World Cup with Morocco, fuelling Milan’s hopes of signing the 29-year-old in January.
The former Ajax star has been struggling with playing at Stamford Bridge this term and the Rossoneri have set their sights on him for a long time.
Although his salary requests may be too high for the Rossoneri, Ziyech remains an option for Milan in January, with Stefano Pioli looking to bolster his options in the final third.
The Morocco international can cover many roles up front and would add quality to Milan’s XI.
His contract at Stamford Bridge expires in June 2025, but Ziyech is expected to leave in the winter transfer window f he won’t get more playing time.
“He played against Man City, and came on against Newcastle. Where he was when we first came, he was a little bit away from the first XI,” Chelsea boss Potter said at a press conference on Friday as quoted by Football London.
“He’s been involved in the games and came on in the first game as a sub. We know his qualities, we like him as a player, and he plays between the lines with fantastic quality as we saw in the World Cup. At Chelsea, there are always good players who aren’t in the starting XI and have to be patient. Delighted for him, and kept in touch with him over the World Cup. Delighted for him that he got the game time, delighted for him that he helped his team, he’s a good guy and he’s got quality.”
Potter’s words mean Ziyech’s Chelsea status won’t change despite his brilliant World Cup campaign with Morocco.
The Chelsea boss insists that Ziyech ‘has to be patient’ but the 29-year-old wants more playing time, which is something Milan would definitely offer. With the January transfer window just around the corner, the Morocco international remains an option for the defending Serie A champions.