On Sunday night, Ousmane Dembele lit up the El Classico with a game-changing display for Barcelona; links to Chelsea were certain to reemerge. The winger's previous history with Thomas Tuchel, the fact he is a free agent this summer and Chelsea's recent attacking struggles make for a reasoned connection.
Given the sheer plethora of options available to Tuchel, the thought of a new addition this summer would surely trigger a major departure from Stamford Bridge. Several names have been mentioned as possible exits. Still, one that should be left out of the conversation is Hakim Ziyech.
Ziyech has quickly become one of the Blues' most reliable names since the new year. Quickly stepping above other struggling attackers to gain consistent minutes and silence doubts over his future in west London. His latest goal against Middlesbrough optimised the shift in confidence. Cutting inside onto his favoured left outside the box and ferociously drilling a shot beyond the reach of Joe Lumley.
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This was the Hakim Ziyech Chelsea thought they were buying in 2020. The opening three months of 2022 has seen the Moroccan reach his most consistent streak for Chelsea, offering moments of genius to alter the course of games. His run of three consecutive Premier League goals against Brighton, Spurs and Crystal Palace won Chelsea seven points. The opener against Spurs optimised the sense of artistry that made the club pursue his signature at Ajax.
It feels ironic that Dembele plays for the club Ziyech was linked to back in December. During that period, the 29-year-old struggled to find any rhythm, either being seen as a fringe figure or one hampered by persistent injury. Links to Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund emerged, signalling a swift exit for the winger signed for £33m.
Unlike the large investment in the younger Kai Havertz, the generational feel of academy breakthrough Mason Mount or the record-breaking fee paid for Romelu Lukaku. Ziyech's more moderate fee made some feel a sale was not out of the question. In January, the Dembele links signalled the continuing frustration over the current attack that was failing to click.
When those conversations arose over potential departures, Ziyech was regularly placed alongside Christian Pulisic and Timo Werner. All three signed since 2019, and all three have spent time twiddling their thumbs on the bench whilst others have taken up the limelight. But it is to Ziyech's credit that those frustrations before Christmas have not been allowed to form a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Even a recent injury setback preceding the Carabao Cup final could have halted his momentum. Still, Saturday's superb strike in the FA Cup signalled otherwise. Tuchel's switch to a four-man defence at times has certainly suited Ziyech's game more. Still, his individual desire to take up more creative responsibility when his team has needed it cannot be undermined.
Dembele showed similar influence for Barcelona on Sunday, demonstrating again why he became such a hot property for Tuchel heading into the summer of 2017. However, Tuchel's own wizard at Stamford Bridge is showing that there is still game-changing quality within the current squad as we reach the business end of the season.
