10 minutes ago, Davey Baby said:

He looks like a real quality signing but I'm wondering why he's still in Holland when he's nearly 27. If anyone can think of a real top quality player who was playing in Holland at 27 let me know. It just seems odd.

 

One thing's for sure, coming to the PL from the Dutch league at 27 will be a huge test for him, not just in terms of quality but also pace and physicality. Ajax could play their B team and still steamroller most of the teams they face.

 

I know he's produced in the CL and he looks a real quality signing, but playing in the PL week-in week-out poses its own, and very different challenges.

 

Having watched a vid or two of him since yesterday he really reminds me of Mahrez. His shots, his free-kicks, his passes, his dummies, his feints, his skills, all remind me of Mahrez, plus the fact of course he's a left-footer which we really need. Mahrez has produced in the toughest league in the world however. 

 

Excited by this signing. Genuine skill, vision, ability, creativity and an attacking edge that we sorely lack. Let's just hope he can produce all that in England.

Good analysis Davey!

Iv'e become wary of raising my hopes with any player we sign at the moment. Price tag means nothing, youtube videos mean nothing, how they played against us means nothing. Literally every player is a gamble, and were not very good at gambling recently.

So i'll just keep my fingers crossed.

 

                          Abraham/Mertens 

pulisic/CHO      Ziyech/Mount      Sancho/Ziyech

         RLC/Kovavic           Kante/Jorginho

Telles/Maatsen                                    James/Azpi

            Tomori/Zouma     Rudi/Christiansen 

                                  Onana   

Make it happen Chels! 

Exciting times on the horizon i think.                  

43 minutes ago, coco said:

Iv'e become wary of raising my hopes with any player we sign at the moment. Price tag means nothing, youtube videos mean nothing, how they played against us means nothing. Literally every player is a gamble, and were not very good at gambling recently.

So i'll just keep my fingers crossed.

Understandable with some of our recent track history. I do feel more confident with Ziyech though. He has impressed not just in the Dutch league but also in Ajax's Champions League matches. There is no guarantee that any player will settle in the English league but he certainly seems to have the talent we are looking for.

There's no chance we get Sancho now. I think we won't sign another wide player. We will focus efforts on a striker and left back. 

4 hours ago, Zola said:

Back to General, its coming! 

Hasn’t agreed personal terms yet; you’ve scuppered the deal moving it back here too soon!

See multiple people wondering why the fee is that low. As someone from Amsterdam: I know! Ziyech was bound to leave Ajax way sooner than he did. But, due to a couple of factors, such as the fact that he is a player that drives on the fun of playing football and the fact that he would rather play for Ajax (close to family)in a lower league than a club such as Everton/Valencia , he decided to make another deal with Ajax. Overmars (Director of football at Ajax) and him made a deal that he would see him extend his contract, and in exchange: put in a gentleman's agreement. If a big club came along that Ziyech would want to leave for, Ajax wouldn't ask their highest price, but instead let him go for a more than reasonable price. I've spoken to a lot of Ajax fans, and they all say the same: he deserves it and we wish him the best. A little bit similar as how I felt when Eden left!

1 hour ago, bisright1 said:

There's no chance we get Sancho now. I think we won't sign another wide player. We will focus efforts on a striker and left back. 

I'm not too sure, I think this is (excellent) insurance against failing with Jadon. Should we sign Sancho Ziyech can play as a 10/midfielder (he may do anyway if James/Callum continue their budding relationship on the right) and if we don't we already have probably the best plan B already here.

All reports indicate this was a Lampard target. Good to see it come to fruition if that’s the case.

I wonder if Frank’s disappointment in that last January press conference was more due to not being able to get Ziyech here during the transfer window, rather than the club not making any signings at all?

2 hours ago, Davey Baby said:

He looks like a real quality signing but I'm wondering why he's still in Holland when he's nearly 27. If anyone can think of a real top quality player who was playing in Holland at 27 let me know. It just seems odd.

 

One thing's for sure, coming to the PL from the Dutch league at 27 will be a huge test for him, not just in terms of quality but also pace and physicality. Ajax could play their B team and still steamroller most of the teams they face.

 

I know he's produced in the CL and he looks a real quality signing, but playing in the PL week-in week-out poses its own, and very different challenges.

 

Having watched a vid or two of him since yesterday he really reminds me of Mahrez. His shots, his free-kicks, his passes, his dummies, his feints, his skills, all remind me of Mahrez, plus the fact of course he's a left-footer which we really need. Mahrez has produced in the toughest league in the world however. 

 

Excited by this signing. Genuine skill, vision, ability, creativity and an attacking edge that we sorely lack. Let's just hope he can produce all that in England.

Mahrez had done nothing in his career until he was 24, Ziyech at 26 at least has Champions League football behind him. 

4 hours ago, PloKoon13 said:

I would also love to get Mikel back. 

Mikel has outgrown African player of the year. No definition for him. 

Edited February 13, 20206 yr by enigma

I noticed a few arsenal (after all they were supposedly interested too) and Utd fans downplaying his abilities. Others are saying it's annoying that Chelsea got him for that price.

Whatever you may think of the Dutch league, he hasn't just proven it there, he's proven his ability against some of the best sides in Europe, in the CL. 

£38m for Ziyech seems even better when you realise Utd could end up paying £68m for B.Fernandes with the clauses they have.

Very happy with this signing and a good fee as well.

I assume this means we're out of the race for signing Sancho?

2 hours ago, mwblue10 said:

£33.36m rising to £36.7m. That’s a good bit of business.

At that price, this does not affect our ability to sign Sancho at all.

That is an amazing deal in today's market. Almost every time I see him play he looks brilliant. I'm really excited about this one, I personally think it's a quality signing.

4 hours ago, Strider6003 said:

Appears to be a good piece of business and for me suggests another departure this end of season.

I'm pretty certain Pedro will leave at the end of the season.

The future of Willian is unclear. He's out of contract at the end of the season and wants a two-year extension but the club is only willing to offer a one-year extension.

Insane deal.

Add Chilwell/Telles, a keeper to challenge Kepa and Sancho and we're in business.

We have a 200m positive net spend and many players to leave. It can be done.

33 minutes ago, JMaher94 said:

Insane deal.

Add Chilwell/Telles, a keeper to challenge Kepa and Sancho and we're in business.

We have a 200m positive net spend and many players to leave. It can be done.

Think we need a striker too. To challenge or replace Tammy.

May it be the first of many:

 

46 minutes ago, Jezz said:

I'm pretty certain Pedro will leave at the end of the season.

The future of Willian is unclear. He's out of contract at the end of the season and wants a two-year extension but the club is only willing to offer a one-year extension.

Agree on Pedro and think this addition makes it more likely Willian will be moving on too.

1 hour ago, Jezz said:

I assume this means we're out of the race for signing Sancho?

Not at all. The price only reinforces our ability to also sign Sancho.

1 hour ago, enigma said:

Mikel has outgrown African player of the year. No definition for him. 

Ballon d’Or. 

2 hours ago, Toti_Bete_Ka said:

A little bit similar as how I felt when Eden left!

I was thinking this sounds like our deal with Eden, one more season and we’ll let you go to Madrid. He left our club the right way. 

1 hour ago, Jezz said:

I'm pretty certain Pedro will leave at the end of the season.

The future of Willian is unclear. He's out of contract at the end of the season and wants a two-year extension but the club is only willing to offer a one-year extension.

Its going to be an interesting summer, there are several players with a questionable Chelsea future at the moment, but Willian seems to be in Franks favour so I`m not so sure he will go.

Looking forward to some of this next season. His low key goal celebrations remind me a bit of Cantona. This guy EXPECTS to assist and score ... 🙂

 

 

Edited February 13, 20206 yr by Sexyfootball