By Craig Scott

23rd Jun, 2022 | 8:40am

Leeds United want Hakim Ziyech, Chelsea could use him in swap deal for Raphinha

Leeds United are keen on signing Chelsea attacker Hakim Ziyech this summer and he could be included in a swap deal for Raphinha, according to CBS journalist Ben Jacobs.

Raphinha, 26, has been strongly linked with a move away from Elland Road this summer and Chelsea’s co-owner Todd Boehly has “explored the situation” regarding the Brazil international [Guardian].

Now, Jacobs claims that Morocco international Ziyech, 29, is on Leeds’ radar and he could be used in a swap deal for Raphinha by Chelsea.

“Barcelona and Arsenal are the two leading clubs at the moment, but don’t be surprised if Chelsea advance their interest if they bring Hakim Ziyech into the equation, because my understanding, talking to Leeds sources, separate to Raphinha is that Ziyech has been a player on their radar,” said Jacobs on The Football Terrace on Wednesday (22 June), as transcribed by HITC.

“There might be a possibility to do some business with Raphinha going one way and Ziyech being given to Leeds, because Leeds don’t just want a chunk of money for Raphinha, they’d love a ready-made replacement and they see Ziyech as a viable option, and that will remain the case even if Raphinha goes elsewhere.”

Sign him regardless?

It seems that Leeds want to sign Ziyech as a replacement for Raphinha regardless of whether the Brazilian heads to Chelsea or elsewhere.

However, we just don’t see it happening.

The former Ajax attacker is reportedly earning £100,000-a-week at Stamford Bridge [Metro], he’ll be 30 years old before the upcoming 2022/23 season is over and he’s struggled for consistency in his time at Chelsea.

Sure, Ziyech is a top-class player and he would probably do quite well for Leeds.

But if Raphinha goes for the big bucks then we could surely sign someone who’s younger who’ll have a higher resale value and might do better in English football than Ziyech has done.

Since joining Chelsea in the summer of 2020, Ziyech has played 46 times in the Premier League, scoring just six goals and supplying six assists.

For an international attacker playing for a club that regularly finishes in the top four, that’s pretty poor.

We’ve seen Leeds linked with some exciting players to potentially replace Raphinha and don’t get us wrong, we never though we’d see Ziyech being linked this summer.

However, there have to be better options out there that make more sense financially.

In other Leeds United news, a super-agent says he’s heard that this Elland Road star is on the verge of leaving the club for a Premier League rival.