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Chelsea 'make Denis Zakaria, Hakim Ziyech decisions ahead of January transfer window'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 12 October 2022

Chelsea 'make Zakaria, Ziyech decisions ahead of January window'

Chelsea are prepared to sell Hakim Ziyech in January, while the club are also said to be looking to terminate Denis Zakaria's loan move, according to a report.

Chelsea are reportedly prepared to sell Hakim Ziyech during the January transfer window, while the Blues are also said to be looking to terminate Denis Zakaria's loan move.

Zakaria arrived at Stamford Bridge in the final moments of the summer market, with the 25-year-old moving to the London giants from Juventus.

The Switzerland international has not made a single appearance for the Blues in any competition, though, and he was again an unused substitute against AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Zakaria has not been in a Premier League squad since his arrival, meanwhile, with a number of players ahead of him in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.

Graham Potter's side have the option to sign him on a permanent basis next summer, but there is allegedly no long-term future for the midfielder at the club.

Denis Zakaria pictured in August 2022 © Reuters

According to 90min, Chelsea want to terminate his loan deal in January, but Juventus have no obligation to take him back in the middle of the campaign.

The report claims that the Blues will also be looking to sell Ziyech at the start of 2023, with AC Milan thought to be showing an interest in his services.

Ajax are also said to be keeping a close eye on developments, with the Dutch champions keen to re-sign the player that they previously had between 2016 and 2020.

Ziyech did not make the trip to Italy for Wednesday's Champions League clash with Milan due to illness.

"Hakim is ill. Hakim has a sore throat and that is why he has not travelled," Potter told reporters when questioned about his absence on Tuesday.

Hakim Ziyech in action for Morocco on September 27, 2022 © Reuters

Ziyech has made five appearances for Chelsea during the 2022-23 campaign, with three of those outings coming in the Premier League.

The Morocco international is down the pecking order when it comes to the forward areas at Stamford Bridge, though, and he has allegedly been informed that he is not in Potter's plans moving forward.

There is also currently uncertainty surrounding the future of Thiago Silva, with the experienced centre-back out of contract next June.

Jorginho and N'Golo Kante will also see their deals expire at the end of the 2022-23 campaign, and the latter has been strongly linked with an exit over the last couple of weeks.

Chelsea will be bidding to make it five victories in a row in all competitions when they travel to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.