Rafael van der Vaart has once again told Tottenham to go out and sign Hakim Ziyech.
The former Spurs player has made no secret of the fact he is a huge fan of the Chelsea playmaker. Spurs know Ziyech only too well, having played an integral role in that famous night at the Johan Cruyff ArenA in 2019 when Spurs came from 2-0 down to beat Ajax 3-2 in the semi-final of the Champions League.
Ziyech has found life in the Premier League that much more difficult than it was in the Netherlands though, struggling to tie down a regular place in the starting XI under any of Frank Lampard, Thomas Tuchel or Graham Potter now.
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He was expected to leave Stamford Bridge for Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window, but after a mix-up with paperwork on transfer deadline day, he remained in west London. A summer move looks likely and Spurs would be the place for him, according to van der Vaart.
Van der Vaart, who spent two years in north London from 2010 to 2012, has spoken a number of times about Ziyech and his future. When he left to join Chelsea in a £33.7million deal in 2020, van der Vaart said: "Still a bit heart broken our MVP is leaving Ajax and Dutch football, to have seen him in a Spurs shirt would have softened my misery."
Then, in 2022, van der Vaart said: "I've been saying that for some time now. I believe Ziyech is the type of player who could make a big impact in the current Spurs team. With a playmaker like him, chances are things will start to go much better. Then Son [Heung-min] doesn’t have to go deep to collect the ball and [Harry] Kane can just remain up front as a striker as well. They miss someone who can feed them those balls. Now they have to work too hard."
He followed that up with: "Hakim Ziyech has to join Tottenham. If Tottenham get Hakim Ziyech, they could win the Premier League. I am serious."
And the former Spurs hero has been at it again.
Speaking to Ladbrokes Fanzone, the Dutchman said: "There's a few missing links for me, I think. I've always said they're missing a classic No. 10. The midfield, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur - when he is fit - is solid - but they're missing a player who can pick up the ball between the lines, make space, turn, run at defenders and get the ball to Sonny [Heung-min Son] and Harry Kane.
"Harry has to play that role himself; dropping deep to get the ball, feed it out, then try to get into the box to get onto the end of things. It's too much for him; he's a striker, he has to stay on the shoulder of defenders and score goals... that's his game.
"They're missing something in that No.10 area, and I think the answer is Hakim Ziyech. He's not happy at Chelsea, and I'm a big fan of his. If Tottenham were to bring him in, their problems are solved; I really don't think they need much more."
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