Three transfers Chelsea should make in the January transfer window
By Anthony Gatt
2. A potential Hakim Ziyech swap deal
I know Hakim Ziyech has been much better this season than last, but for me, it’s the same old same old with him. Ziyech seemingly has these moments of brilliance, but then goes missing for the remainder of the game. This may be a farfetched transfer—as I believe it will be more likely that Ziyech leaves in the summer than in January—but it’s worth a try regardless.
The transfer I am alluding to is a swap deal with Barcelona with Ousmane Dembele coming to Chelsea and Ziyech heading the other way. Dembele will be out of a contract in the summer and if all reports are true, it looks like Barcelona will not be meeting Dembele’s wage demands. Thus, he could be leaving the Camp Nou in the coming months.
Therefore, if Barcelona wants to get anything back from the €135 million the Blaugrana spent on him in the Summer of 2017, they should consider this proposal. I understand that Dembele is as injury prone as any other player football have seen in recent times, but he is still just 24. I—and more importantly, Thomas Tuchel—believe he still has potential to be a great player. Added on top of all of that, the Frenchman enjoyed his best season as a professional footballer under the guidance of the aforementioned German gaffer at Borussia Dortmund. Thus, if there anyone who could get the best out of him, it’s the Blues’ current boss.
This transfer would be a win-win considering the circumstances. Barcelona gets Ziyech, who will help Xavi’s side create more chances as its attack has struggled mightily this season. Meanwhile, Chelsea gets a player who is four years younger and will offer more pace on either side of the Blues’ attack, all while offloading a player who doesn’t exactly fit in Tuchel’s system.