Chelsea look set to seal a deal for Ajax star Hakim Ziyech in the coming days.
The Morocco international has been a rumoured target for the Blues, Arsenal and Tottenham in transfer windows gone by, but reports broke on Wednesday that the Blues were in advanced talks for the 26-year-old.
A deal worth £38million is said to be close, with the clubs making an 'oral agreement' for a transfer, while Ziyech has reportedly agreed personal terms.
Ziyech would become Frank Lampard's first permanent transfer as Chelsea manager after the club failed to bring in any players during the January transfer window.
The Blues had a late reprieve on their two-window transfer ban from FIFA, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling in December that their punishment had been halved - but no players came through the door during Lampard's first opportunity to bring in reinforcements.
Ajax were in action on Wednesday evening in the KNVB Cup against Vitesse, and though Ziyech was on the bench, he was already catching the eye in the warm up - and Chelsea fans were loving it.
Ajax coach Erik Ten Hag has confirmed that a move is coming, with the club happy that he has stayed in Amsterdam this long.
"Ziyech to Chelsea? A transfer was coming, we expected it to happen," he stated.
"And I actually expected this one or two years earlier. And each time it was: 'Wow, he stayed again'.
"We are just happy that we will still have him until the end of the season."
Ajax were in action on Wednesday evening in the KNVB Cup against Vitesse, and though Ziyech was on the bench, he was already catching the eye in the warm up - and Chelsea fans were loving it.
