New Chelsea signing Hakim Ziyech has disclosed the reason behind his move to Stamford Bridge.

Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech has been confirmed as a Chelsea player though he won’t join his new teammates until this summer.

He has already penned a five-year deal with the Blues until the summer of 2025.

Earlier this month, Ajax Amsterdam announced that they have reached an agreement with Premier League giants Chelsea for the transfer of their player Hakim Ziyech and that the player will team up with the Blues at the end of the season.

The Dutch champions will receive £38m for the transfer of the attacker who can play in a lot of positions.

Hakim Ziyech can play as a striker, as a second striker, as a left winger, as a right winger and as the player behind the lone striker.

In his first interview with Chelsea, Hakim Ziyech revealed the reason behind his transfer to the club.

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According to him, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was a big reason for the transfer.

Ziyech also said that the move had been alive during the January transfer window but the parties involved decided to wait till the summer.

He has been a major player for Dutch champions Ajax Amsterdam for the better part of the last three years.

Hakim Ziyech played a big role for Ajax Amsterdam as they won two trophies at the end of the last campaign.

Ziyech and Ajax beat rivals PSV Eindhoven to the Dutch league title and also played a big role in the Dutch Cup which his team won by beating Willem II 4-0 in the final of the competition.

His biggest influence was evident for everyone to see in the Champions League as he helped Ajax Amsterdam reach the semifinals of the competition.

Ajax were the surprise team of the competition last season.

Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga could leave the club this summer after manager Frank Lampard dropped him from his starting XI.

The Spanish international has sat on the bench in the last two games in the Premier League after some questionable performances in the Chelsea goal.

Kepa Arrizabalaga has one of the worst save ratio in the Premier League this season and that prompted Lampard to drop him for the away game at Leicester City in the league.

The Spaniard was replaced in the Chelsea starting XI by 38-year-old ex-Argentine international shot stopper Willy Caballero for the Leicester City game which ended in a 2-2 draw at the King Power Stadium.

Willy Caballero was then retained for the next league game at home to top-four rivals Manchester United on Monday night. He was unable to influence the result which was in favour of the visitors.

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Manchester United completed the double over Chelsea for the first time in the Premier League era after the 2-0 away win at Stamford Bridge via the goals from Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire either side of the halftime interval.

The Red Devils had thrashed Chelsea 4-0 at home in the reverse fixture on the opening weekend of the season.

Kepa Arrizabalaga is the most expensive goalkeeper in world football after Chelsea paid £71m to sign him from Athletic Bilbao. Here are four goalkeepers that could replace him:

1. Nick Pope

The Burnley goalkeeper is one of the best shot stoppers in the Premier League this season and he has emerged as a strong contender to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga as the Chelsea number one.

2. Dean Henderson

Manchester United loanee Dean Henderson has been in good form since his loan move to Sheffield United from the Red Devils. French champions Paris Saint Germain (PSG), Sheffield United and many more are interested in a permanent deal for him.

3. Bartlomiej Dragowski

Fiorentina goalkeeper  Bartlomiej Dragowski is a major target for Chelsea.

The Premier League title race is all but over with leaders Liverpool way above every other team in the league. The Reds have 25 points more than nearest challengers Manchester City and it’s just a matter of time before the league title is officially confirmed.

With the league title race almost over, the most intriguing race in the Premier League this season is the battle for fourth place. Liverpool, Manchester City and Leicester City are almost confirmed for the top three spots.

Seven teams are in the frame for just one Champions League spot with 11 games left to play though the slot could increase to two slots with the European ban on Manchester City.

The Citizens have appealed against the ban from European football for two seasons as imposed on them by UEFA. With one or two Champions League spots available, here are the top three favourites for next season’s Champions League:

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1. Tottenham Hotspur

Jose Mourinho made a bright start to his managerial career at Spurs upon his appointment in November before a below par festive period set his team back a little bit but things have improved in the past few games. Spurs have won their last three matches in the Premier League ahead of the crucial London Derby clash with hosts Chelsea this weekend. Mourinho and his players are in fifth spot and just one point from fifth-placed Chelsea.

2. Chelsea

The former Premier League champions are in pole position for a top-four spot but their form has not been good. Chelsea are without a win in the last four league games ahead of the next game at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

3. Manchester United

The Red Devils are firmly back in the race after the win over Chelsea on Monday night. Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire scored either side of the halftime interval to give Manchester United a 2-0 away victory over the Blues.

Chelsea are reportedly closing in on a move for Inter Milan midfielder Mattias Vecino ahead of this summer’s transfer window.

According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea are on the verge of making the Uruguayan international player their second signing of this summer.

Chelsea have already signed one player after the £38m agreement for Ajax Amsterdam star Hakim Ziyech.

The Moroccan international will join the Blues this summer after the two clubs reached an agreement for his transfer.

Hakim Ziyech has been the star of the Ajax Amsterdam squad over the last two seasons and he’ll be playing his club football at Stamford Bridge next season.

The Moroccan attacker can play in each of the four front attacking positions effectively and efficiently.

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Hakim Ziyech helped Ajax Amsterdam to a double last season. Ajax ended the last campaign with the Dutch Eredivisie title and the Dutch Cup.

Chelsea were not able to sign players in the last two transfer windows, but they could end up with two new players before the transfer window reopens. The Blues could wrap up a deal with Inter Milan for Mattias Vecino in addition to the Hakim Ziyech’s transfer.

Mattias Vecino has a release clause of £23m in his Inter Milan contract at the moment and Chelsea are willing to pay that amount to secure his transfer.

The Uruguayan midfielder was seriously linked with Manchester United last month but the Red Devils opted to sign Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon in Portugal.

Manchester United signed Bruno Fernandes in a £44m deal that could rise to £68m.

Bruno Fernandes made his debut for the Red Devils during the penultimate league game at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Wolves game ended in a goalless draw and Bruno Fernandes played the entire duration of the game. He was also prominent in the last league game, a 2-0 away victory over Chelsea on Monday night.

Chelsea were boosted by the news of a new signing last week following the agreement with Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam over the transfer of Hakim Ziyech.

The player won’t join Chelsea from Ajax Amsterdam until this summer.

Chelsea will pay £38m for his transfer from the Dutch champions and he could be the man to replace Willian on the right side of the attack.

Brazilian winger Willian has less than six months on his Chelsea deal meaning that his contract will expire in the summer. He would be a free agent by then amidst the interest from the likes of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the Spanish La Liga.

Chelsea have struggled in the past weeks and that has put their quest to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition, UEFA Champions League, in serious doubt.

The Blues are in fourth position on the Premier League table and they have one more point than Tottenham Hotspur in fifth place though they have played one more game than their London rivals.

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Their game in hand is the home clash with Manchester United on Monday night.

Chelsea have struggled against bottom-half teams in the Premier League this season and Hakim Ziyech could be the player to solve that problem for manager Frank Lampard when he joins them as from the start of next season.

Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech would improve the Chelsea team in the following ways:

1. Quality

Chelsea have struggled a bit without the star quality of Eden Hazard and Hakim Ziyech could be the man to fill the void left by the Belgian international.

2. Goals and Assists

First choice striker Tammy Abraham has been the only source of goals at Chelsea this season. Hakim Ziyech scores goals and assists. He has scored 22 goals and provided 25 assists in the last 48 league games for Ajax Amsterdam.

Super Eagles of Nigeria striker Odion Ighalo is in line for his Manchester United debut when they face hosts Chelsea in a crucial league clash on Monday night.

The ex-Watford striker joined Manchester United on deadline day during the winter transfer window last month and he could be the player to fire the Red Devils back to Champions League football after one season.

Manchester United missed out on Champions League football this season after a sixth-placed finish at the end of the last league campaign and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would be hoping to lead his team back to the competition next season.

The Chelsea game is significant for Manchester United as they have the opportunity to close the gap on their opponents who occupy the fourth and final place for Champions League qualification.

Fifth position could still be good enough for a spot in the Champions League next season after second-placed Manchester City were subject of a transfer ban in Europe.

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Manchester City have been banned from any form of European competition over the next two seasons after breaching FFP (Financial Fair Play) rules.

Odion Ighalo was the second signing for Manchester United during the January transfer window after Portuguese international Bruno Fernandes and he could be the man to fire the Red Devils back into the Champions League.

Ighalo could perform miracles for Manchester United in the following ways:

1. Goals

Manchester United have struggled for goals in the absence of Marcus Rashford and Odion Ighalo could add firepower to a lean Manchester United frontline without Rashford who has 19 goals in all competitions.

2. Premier League Experience

He has adequate Premier League experience and that could be a useful ammunition for him and his new team between now and the rest of the season.

3. Plan B

Odion Ighalo will provide Solskjaer with a second option in attack even if Marcus Rashford returns to the team as expected next month.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hinted that new signing Odion Ighalo could make his debut for Manchester United ahead of English Premier League [EPL] trip to Chelsea on Monday night.

In his press conference for the game, Solskjaer revealed that the Nigerian striker will travel to London with the squad and that he is in line to make his first appearance for Manchester United whom he joined on loan from Chinese top flight side Shanghai Shenshua.

Odion Ighalo has been training alone since he moved back to England from China as part of the two-week precaution against Coronavirus which has ravaged the Asian country.

He was playing for  Watford before moving to China some years ago.

Solskjaer would be hoping that Ighalo can add the much needed firepower to a blunt attack that has gone three games without a single goal.

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Manchester United have failed to score in each of their last three games in the Premier League.

Solskjaer and his players failed to score during the 2-0 defeat at the hands of hosts and league leaders Liverpool before the same scoreline was recorded at home to Burnley.

Manchester United made it three successive league games without a single goal following the goalless draw at home to Wolves and the Chelsea game gives them the perfect opportunity to get back on track especially with the Champions League race now firmly back on after the European ban imposed on city rivals Manchester City.

Only the top four places will guarantee Champions League football in the next campaign but fifth spot could be available after UEFA banned second-placed Manchester City for breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules which is subject to an appeal.

Manchester United are six points adrift Chelsea who occupy fourth position, while they are four points below Sheffield United.

Chelsea have decided to sanction the sale of Mario Pasalic to the Italian Serie A according to the latest reports from the Daily Star.

It was revealed that Champions League campaigners and Italian giants Atalanta want to turn the loan deal of Croatian international Mario Pasalic into a permanent transfer.

Mario Pasalic has not figured prominently for the West London giants since he signed for the club six years ago.

The Croatian international midfielder became a Chelsea player in 2014 on the back of his £3m transfer from Hadjuk Split in his native Croatia.

He has been sent on loan by Chelsea in each of the last six seasons.

Mario Pasalic has been on loan to clubs like French giants AS Monaco, AC Milan and Russian Premier League side Spartak Moscow before his loan transfer to Italian Serie A outfit Atalanta at the start of the last campaign.

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He has been a permanent fixture at Atalanta since the start of last season and was part of the team that finished third at the end of last season as the Italians qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history.

After a successful loan spell at Atalanta last season, Mario Pasalic returned to the club last summer for another loan spell and he has helped the club to fourth place on the league table this season as well as the first knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time in their history.

Mario Pasalic and Atalanta will face Spanish La Liga side Valencia in the knockout stage of the Champions League later this month.

Atalanta are prepared to make his move a permanent one in a £12m deal.

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has an array of midfield talents at his disposal and he can afford to let Mario Pasalic leave the club permanently.