Chelsea flop Ziyech eyes Premier League return after stunning outburst

Milan Keskin

• Updated: 22 Dec 2024 09:10 CST
• 3 min read

Hakim Ziyech wants to leave Galatasaray in the upcoming transfer window no matter what.

The 31-year-old playmaker barely gets to play and his recent statements about coach Okan Buruk will not improve that situation.

“Galatasaray is over for me. I don’t want to play here, I’m leaving in January. I have never seen a worse coach than Okan Buruk,” Ziyech thundered earlier this week.

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According to Turkish media, Ziyech is in talks about a return in the upcoming transfer window. While Ziyech was previously linked to AZ and Benfica, the list of interested clubs now appears to be a lot longer.

In addition to Stade Rennes, several clubs from the Premier League are also said to be interested in the former Chelsea man. According to Turkish media, it concerns Ipswich Town and West Ham United.

Ziyech linked with Premier League return

At the latter club, Ziyech could be reunited with Edson Álvarez, with whom the attacking midfielder played briefly at Ajax.

Both clubs are said to have already made initial contact with Ziyech's management. However, it is unclear whether the Moroccan international himself is interested in a return to the Premier League.

Ziyech played a total of 107 matches for Chelsea between 2020 and 2024 and won the Champions League with the London club. The former FC Twente and SC Heerenveen player left Chelsea on a free transfer last summer for Galatasaray, who had previously loaned him for six months.

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Turkish daily Fanatik claimed earlier this week that there had already been contact between Ziyech and Eredivisie side AZ. In order to clarify the situation, Hans Kraay Jr decided to inquire with Max Huiberts, the technical director of AZ.

"I called Max Huiberts, the technical director of AZ, this afternoon," said the ESPN reporter. According to Kraay Jr, Huiberts quickly dispelled the rumours: "He said: 'There is absolutely nothing to it and we are not interested either.'"