Newcastle held talks with Chelsea star agent over a January transfer

Newcastle United have now held talks with the agent of Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech over his transfer. The Moroccan’s entourage are keen to seal his move away from Stamford Bridge.

That is according to 90min, which reports Ziyech’s representatives have approached a host of potential suitors. The Blues have told the 29-year-old that he can leave west London this month. He is also still keen to leave the club in his quest to play regular first-team football.

Ziyech accepts that he must leave Chelsea to get regular game time having only played for 519 minutes this season. His tally includes just 334 minutes of Premier League action over nine appearances. The 50-cap dynamo has also only started three top-flight fixtures so far.

Chelsea would now like to sell Ziyech, too, with the £100k-a-week playmaker tied down in west London until 2025. But the Blues hierarchy admit that a loan move is more likely over the coming weeks. Any temporary deal would also appeal to Newcastle as they eye Ziyech.

The Toon have the midfielder – who Frank Lampard paid Ajax £33.5m to sign in 2020 – on their January shortlist. Magpies chiefs also responded positively when Ziyech’s agent made contact to discuss a possible transfer from Chelsea to Newcastle in the mid-season market.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is now weighing up a move to seal the transfer of Ziyech from Chelsea. He is eager to add extra attacking options to build on the Magpies’ incredible run in the Premier League this term. The Toon are in third place with 38 points after 19 games.

Ziyech does not have a great record in the English top-flight, though. Through the Dronten, Netherlands-born dynamo’s 55 Premier League outings for Chelsea so far, he has only laid on seven assists and scored six goals. He has also only started 32 of a possible 81 games.

Former Liverpool and England defender Glen Johnson also questions Ziyech’s suitability for the Premier League. Yet the Moroccan has eight goals and 10 assists over 39 outings in the Champions League for Ajax and Chelsea. He has also started 25 fixtures in the competition.

“I’m a big fan of him and he’s obviously a super player. However, I believe that the Premier League may be a little bit too aggressive for him,” Johnson told GG Recon. “Technically there’s no doubt about what he can do as he’s one of the best.

“But international football is closer to Champions League football than it is the Premier League and what I mean by that is, is that you get more time on the ball and you’ve got more time to take the ball down and play.”