Ziyech back on the radar

Lyndon Lloyd | Tuesday, 09 August 2016

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Updated Everton are being mentioned again in connection with FC Twente's standout player Hakim Ziyech, with suggestions in the Netherlands that the Blues have lodged a €10m bid the 23-year-old.

Given his performances for Twente last season and the Dutch club's forced demotion from the Eredivisie for financial irregularities, Ziyech has been odds-on to leave them this summer, it was just a question of where.

The Moroccan appeared destined for Roma this week in a €10m deal but Twente's technical director Ted Leeuwen has described the reports as a"an urban legend".

Twentesite.nl, meanwhile, quote Tijmen van Wissing on Radio East as saying:

"[A move for Ziyech] can happen any time. Everton has called again. Ronald Koeman knows Ziyech very well and Everton has been frequently mentioned and they can invest a lot.

But whether Everton, which is obviously a big club in Liverpool, is really the right fit is a wonder to me. "

Adding to the speculation is a report by De Telegraaf which suggests that a move for Ziyech "is imminent", also mentions Koeman's interest but adds Ajax and Inter Milan as rivals for his signature.

New Milan boss Frank de Boer will have seen plenty of the midfielder in the Eredivisie, particularly last season when he scored 17 times and weighed in with 10 assists for Twente.

15 August — Reports in the Netherlands say that Ajax and Twente have failed thus far to come to an agreement over a deal for Ziyech. The Amsterdam club are apparently reluctant to invest too heavily in a player who could affect the development of Appie Nouri.

Meanwhile, Fenerbahçe, meanwhile, remain keen on Ziyech but could be stymied in their attempts to sign by FFP regulations.