Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is a big admirer of Hakim Ziyech and even explored the possibility of signing the Chelsea star over the summer, with the winger shining during Morocco's World Cup campaign.
Morocco bowed out of the World Cup on Wednesday night, as they lost 2-0 in their semi-final against France. Goals either side of half-time from Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani knocked the African side out of the tournament agonisingly close to the final.
Ziyech was one of the stand-out players for his national side during the competition, as the former Ajax man proved to be a constant attacking threat throughout his time in Qatar.
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Ziyech was one of the players that were on Ten Hag's radar over the summer, as MEN Sport reported back in August that the Dutchman was keen to bring the 29-year-old to Old Trafford, but was being met with some resistance by the board as they wanted the club to pursue other options.
United aren't thought to have much money to play with in the January transfer window and his fine form for Morocco could tempt Ten Hag to return with an offer for his former Ajax playmaker. With a reunion potentially on the horizon, it is clear to see why the United manager was eager to bring the 29-year-old to Manchester over the summer.
Speaking to Dutch Soccer Site in 2019 while at Ajax, Ten Hag said: "Hakim [Ziyech], the classic individualist, in the good sense of the word. You need him to make the difference and at times you need him in the team structure too. He can see the team cohesion and he sees the bigger picture.
"Whenever resistance is at its highest, Ziyech shines. We have many players who can create but in the final third, no one is as good as Hakim."
As he left Ajax to join Chelsea, Ten Hag was also sad to see Ziyech go - yet he also sent a friendly word of warning to the London club ahead of his arrival in the capital.
The Dutchman said: "He is a character, headstrong. But that also makes him brilliant. He sees things that others don't see. Sometimes he is a trainer's nightmare, but you have to give him space. If they start playing on their responsibility, you see the development. He took Ajax by the hand, and we were very successful together."
Ten Hag also compared Ziyech's impact on his Ajax side to that of Frenkie de Jong, as the club struggled to replace the qualities of the Barcelona midfielder following his departure from the Eredivisie.
"Hakim has been very decisive, and he has such specific qualities that cannot simply be found in other players," Ten Hag said. "It was the same for Frenkie de Jong last season. These are players who can make the difference in the offensive phase."
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