The end of the January transfer window is approaching, but Newcastle United have yet to significantly strengthen their squad, with the only addition being Australian teenager Garang Kuol.
After a hectic but effective spending spree a year ago that brought in the likes of Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier, and Bruno Guimaraes, Magpies boss Eddie Howe and co have found it much quieter this time around.
However, the suggestion is that the former Bournemouth manager is eager to bolster his squad before the deadline in order to aid in the push for Champions League qualification, with attacking recruits appearing to be high on the priority list.
According to recent reports, one of those targets could be Chelsea playmaker Hakim Ziyech, who was previously linked with the club over the summer.
The Moroccan international is believed to be one of a handful of players at Stamford Bridge who have been told they can leave this month, with the Blues already well-stocked in attack following the arrivals of Joao Felix, Noni Madueke, and Mykhaylo Mudryk in recent weeks.
Transfer insider Dean Jones, speaking to GIVEMESPORT, has given his opinion on a potential move to St James’ Park for the former Ajax man, stating:
“You can see that he doesn’t fit into what’s going on at Chelsea right now, and Newcastle appears to be a good short-term fit for attempting to cement their Champions League status.”
Although the 50-cap gem has struggled in England so far, with only 14 goals and 11 assists in 98 games across all competitions, he previously shone in the Netherlands, with a staggering haul of 130 goal involvements in just 165 games across all fronts.
Even despite his underwhelming form in the Premier League, the £100k-per-week “wizard” – as lauded by journalist Nizar Kinsella – has still shown flashes of his quality, with that evidenced by his statistical and stylistic likeness to Manchester United talisman, Bruno Fernandes, as per FBref.
That comparison between the two attacking midfield talents can be illustrated by their ability to offer a creative spark in the side, with Ziyech ranking in the top 10% for progressive passes among his European peers, while Fernandes ranks in the top 7% in that regard.
Not just threats in an attacking sense, the pair are also impressive figures due to their relentless work ethic, with the Blues maestro ranking in the top 12% for both clearances and tackles, while his United counterpart ranks in the top 15% and the top 2% for those two metrics, respectively.
The hope would be that Ziyech can emulate Fernandes’ impact in England and hit the ground running were he to sign this month, with the latter man has been something of a “revelation” after joining the club in January 2020, as per Statman Dave.
The former Sporting Lisbon star finished the 2019/20 season with eight goals and seven assists in just 14 league games, quickly cementing himself as the Red Devils’ leading man, a position he has maintained since, as the 28-year-old now has 100 goal involvements in only 154 games for the club.
To think that Newcastle might be able to land their answer to the Portugal international in the form of Ziyech is a truly intriguing prospect for Howe and co, with such a signing seemingly set to help the club reach even greater heights in the coming months and years.
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