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Newcastle considering Chelsea attacker among January targets
As the January transfer season continues, Newcastle are considering a number of attacking possibilities, including Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech, according to reports.
Ziyech is one of many Chelsea players who have been given permission to move during this window. The 29-year-old was hoping to leave Chelsea last summer, but since clubs like Ajax and AC Milan were unable to reach an agreement, he is now trying to move this month.
Ziyech is eager to play regular first-team football after a successful World Cup with semifinalists Morocco, but he is aware that it will probably only be achievable away from Stamford Bridge.
Graham Potter, the manager of Chelsea, said that he closely observed Ziyech in Qatar and was impressed, but admits he can’t promise him the regular chance the player wants.
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Potter said: “We know his qualities and we like him as a player. At Chelsea there are always good players that aren’t in the starting XI. [I am] delighted for him to get the game time and help [Morocco]. I kept in touch with him throughout the World Cup.”
Newcastle was one among the clubs that responded positively to Ziyech’s representatives’ efforts to pique their interest in signing him.
Selling Ziyech is Chelsea’s ideal scenario. The most likely course of action, though, is a loan, and Newcastle might be interested in doing so given that the player has more than two years left on his present contract.
Newcastle and Eddie Howe would like more attacking options going into the latter part of the season, along with a midfielder and a right-back. But as a result of Financial Fair Player concerns, they look unlikely to spend big in January at this moment in time.
However, if the right deal emerged we understand the club would pull the trigger on it.
As well as Ziyech, Newcastle have also been linked with other Chelsea players including Connor Gallagher and Ruben Loftus-Cheek but it remains to be seen if either would be available this month.