Chelsea greenlight attacker's sale for huge loss

Stuart Telford

• 27 Jan 2023 16:34 CST
• 3 min read

Chelsea are willing to let one of their attacking talents leave for half the price they bought him for as they look to go some way towards balancing the books, and their squad.

The Blues have spent €180 million on players in the January transfer window, bringing the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk and Joao Felix to Stamford Bridge, but the new arrivals look set to force others out.

Bayern Munich were linked with a move for Kai Havertz, while Christian Pulisic's future has grabbed many a column inch almost since he arrived from Borussia Dortmund, but Hakim Ziyech now looks set to be the first of them to leave.

READ: Chelsea winger Ziyech wanted by Everton as Gordon replacement

The winger's stock is high having helped Morocco become the first African nation ever to make it to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar this winter, but he can barely get a look in at Chelsea, having made only four Premier League starts this season.

Roma are ready to offer him a way out, and Chelsea have set their asking price according to Sky Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.

€20m for Zitech

"Chelsea can't loan him out as they have hit their quote of eight players in this regard," he reports. "So Roma would need to buy him outright. Chelsea's economic wish is around €20m, a figure which could be lowered in negotiations."

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Chelsea paid Ajax €40m for Ziyech's services in July 2020, so a sale to Roma would represent a significant hit.

Roma are in the market for a new winger with Italy international Nicolo Zaniolo currently discussing terms on a €30m move to Bournemouth.

AC Milan have also been linked with a move for Ziyech, but the Rossoneri can only afford loans in the winter transfer window save for the unlikely event that they part ways with Rafa Leao before the end of the month.