Chelsea wantaway offered escape route after PSG move ignited, with rogue move being assessed

Ciaran McCarthy
Hakim Ziyech, Chelsea, January 2023

Hakim Ziyech could reportedly still get a winter move away from Chelsea after his proposed move to Paris Saint-Germain went up in flames, as Besiktas are assessing a transfer.

Ziyech hasn’t been too near the top of the pecking order at Chelsea this season. Indeed, he’s played 10 Premier League games, and started just four of those.

That was before the new arrivals of attacking players Joao Felix, Noni Madueke and Mykhaylo Mudryk.

It’s not difficult to work out some attacking players will now have less opportunities. And for a player that wasn’t playing all too regularly to begin with, Ziyech is in danger of being frozen out.

As such, in the latter stages of the January window, a move away seemed a wise idea. A few clubs, including Roma and Newcastle United, were credited with interest, as per insider Fabrizio Romano.

However, it was PSG who stormed into the lead late on, and looked as if they were going to complete the snare. There were no objections from Chelsea’s side, and a move looked all but certain.

It didn’t quite pan out that way, though. Indeed, the Blues were reported to have not submitted the paperwork on time, and with Ziyech already in Paris, the deal was off, to the dismay of the Ligue 1 giants.

Given reports stated Ziyech was actively trying to force through a move, he won’t be best pleased that he was effectively stranded in Paris, without belonging to a new club.

It’s unlikely he’ll want to stay at Chelsea, but options are thin after most European leagues’ windows have now closed.

Transfers are still possible for some countries, Turkey being one. What’s more, Gokmen Ozcan reports Besiktas have been ‘recommended’ Ziyech and are now ‘making a cost assessment’.

While a move to the Turkish side wouldn’t have been his first choice, it would allow Ziyech precious game time away from Chelsea.

If they were to make an offer, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he jumped at it. Furthermore, it wouldn’t be the first time Besiktas had welcomed a Premier League struggler into their ranks.

Dele Alli, Nathan Redmond, Georges-Kevin Nkoudou and Cenk Tosun are among the ex-Premier League players plying their trade in Istanbul at the moment.

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