Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified Chelsea attacker Hakim Ziyech as an ideal transfer target for the summer window.
The 30-year-old failed to establish a regular starting role at Stamford Bridge under Thomas Tuchel or Graham Potter and was on the verge of departing on loan during the January window.
Paris Saint-Germain were expected to bring the Morocco international to Ligue 1 on deadline day, and he had already flown to the French capital in anticipation of a loan move being completed.
However, administrative errors saw the deal collapse at the last minute, and Ziyech returned to Chelsea for the remainder of the campaign after PSG failed with an appeal to the LFP.
It remains to be seen if the ex-Ajax man can suddenly reignite his Blues career under Frank Lampard, but he was left out of the squad for their defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend.
Ziyech has now failed to make Chelsea's matchday squad for their last four Premier League matches, and he is expected to be one of the first names on the chopping block this summer.
According to Football Insider, Tottenham have now registered their interest in the 30-year-old as they seek to bolster their attacking ranks, but PSG are preparing to try again for his services too.
West Ham United and Fulham could also offer Ziyech a London-based escape route, although Spurs and PSG would likely be able to offer the attacker European football, which puts the Hammers and Cottagers at an immediate disadvantage.
Ziyech only has two years left to run on his Chelsea contract, and the Blues are said to be open to bids of around £20m for the Morocco international, who arrived in a £38m deal from Ajax in 2020.
At this moment in time, PSG are said to be Ziyech's preferred choice following his failed January transfer, as Les Parisiens prepare for the possible exit of Lionel Messi at the end of the season.
Ziyech has 14 goals and 11 assists to boast from 102 games in a Chelsea shirt since arriving in 2020, but he has only set up one goal in 19 matches across all competitions during the current season.
Despite his domestic troubles, Ziyech was a driving force in Morocco's run to the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar, scoring one goal and setting up another as the Atlas Lions became the first-ever African nation to reach the final four.
Spurs will be waving goodbye to Lucas Moura when his contract expires at the end of the season, while Arnaut Danjuma's loan move from Villarreal is unlikely to be made permanent given his lack of game time.
Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski remain the Lilywhites' two first-choice wingers either side of Harry Kane, but the latter is still on loan at the club from Juventus, and Spurs may not achieve the conditions set out to trigger their obligation to buy.
Tottenham must qualify for the Champions League and play Kulusevski for 45 minutes in at least half of their Premier League games to trigger the obligation, but the North London club will still possess an option to sign Kulusevski permanently if they fail to finish in the top four. body check tags ::
