Hans Kraay junior sees it happen that Hakim Ziyech returns to the Johan Cruijff ArenA. The phlegmatic winger annex attacking midfielder is at a dead end at Chelsea and is allowed by the London club to look for a new challenge. In Amsterdam and the surrounding area, they like to see Ziyech come, but they also know that he will receive a substantial salary.
“Ziyech was unlucky a few times that a number of transfers did not take place,” Kraay junior begins Football talk. “I can imagine that Ajax will report to him when Kudus leaves. He can play hanging on the right and on 10. He doesn’t get in the way, does he.” Kraay suspects that the failed deal with Paris Saint-Germain has been a major blow to Ziyech. “You’ll get a kick out of that.”
Mario Been wonders what will remain if Ziyech does not return to Ajax. “He had the chance abroad, but was rejected (at Al-Nassr, ed.). Perhaps that is lurking at more European top clubs and that Ajax says to him: ‘We will just get you and see how and what. Maybe you get paid per game according to your fitness.'”
Salary ceiling
While Kraay thinks that Ziyech currently earns an annual salary of 5 million euros, the other table guests rather think of a net annual salary of 8 million. “You can’t escape the fact that he has to earn a lot,” said Kees Kwakman. “When he comes on the market, you can be sure that Mislintat will have to tap the salary cap. He cannot escape that.”
Been especially hopes that Ziyech also values his sporting ambitions. “Is that a barrier for Ziyech to let it bounce off? The salary?”, the former coach of Feyenoord wonders. “He seems like a football fan. Who wants to play football again to revive his career? Maybe he can take another step after that.”
Ziyech still has a two-year contract with Chelsea until mid-2025. Transfer market currently estimates its value at 16 million euros. It seems that Chelsea still want to earn a considerable amount of money from him. Ben Jacobs recently wrote on behalf of CBS Sports that Ziyech is willing to hand in part of his salary for a return to Ajax.