CHELSEA’S Hakim Ziyech is reportedly being targeted by Italian giants AC Milan and Juventus after a rough start to life under Thomas Tuchel.
The 27-year-old wideman has struggled for game time under the club’s new boss and CalcioMercato claims Milan and Juventus are monitoring his situation closely.
Ziyech only arrived at Chelsea in the summer from Ajax in a £37million deal that was agreed in February 2020.
The Morocco international has scored two goals and provided four assists in 19 appearances in all competitions for the Blues so far this term.
But since starting Tuchel‘s first game in charge against Wolves, Ziyech has yet to taste any further Prem action, although he was named in the starting XI for Thursday night’s 1-0 FA Cup win over Barnsley.
Before Chelsea secured their spot in the quarter-finals, Tuchel admitted Ziyech needs to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League.
On Wednesday, the German boss said: “For me it’s clear that he needs to adapt to this kind of football, this kind of league.
“He comes from the Dutch league, from a strong Ajax squad but they were the benchmark in the league and it’s not the same intensity and competition as it is here.
“But he’s adapting and he has the certain quality to decide matches and the certain quality to do the unexpected which can give you an extra twist in any game and on level which he proved with Ajax.
“Of course we want to push him to the same level of performance that he showed there and this is our job.”
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The report states Serie A leaders Milan and Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Juventus could make a move for Ziyech when the summer window opens if his standing at Chelsea becomes more precarious.
Ziyech didn’t help his cause with an underwhelming display against Barnsley, losing possession a staggering TWENTY FIVE times.
The Holland-born star had no shots and contributed just two key passes before being hauled off and replaced by youngster Tino Anjorin after 69 minutes.
Despite Tammy Abraham’s tap-in earning the West Londoners a home quarter-final against Sheffield United, Tuchel demanded more from his side.
After the win in Yorkshire, the ex-PSG coach said: “We scored the goal and I had the feeling that they increased the risk but we stepped down in the little decisions.
“Not enough courage and it was too deep for a long, long time.
‘We clearly can play better, so yes I expected more but not in terms that I am frustrated.
“If you lack a rhythm and a bit of self-confidence and you have to show on this pitch, against an opponent that takes all the risk and plays the game of his life, that is not easy.
“We can do better but I don’t want to be too hard on the players.”
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