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The new Eriksen: Is Spurs target Hakim Ziyech the real deal?

By Liam Thomas

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - JANUARY 29: Hakim Ziyech of Ajax celebrates scoring his teams first goal of the game during the Eredivisie match between Ajax Amsterdam and ADO Den Haag held at Amsterdam Arena on January 29, 2017 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - JANUARY 29: Hakim Ziyech of Ajax celebrates scoring his teams first goal of the game during the Eredivisie match between Ajax Amsterdam and ADO Den Haag held at Amsterdam Arena on January 29, 2017 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /
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The Morrocan international and Ajax playmaker Hakim Ziyech has been linked with a move to North London in recent days, with many drawing comparisons between himself and Spurs starlet Christian Eriksen.

Ziyech has found himself as one of the Eredivisie’s top performers this season, boasting nine goals and 18 assists in 39 appearances for the prestigious Dutch side.

Calciomercato is reporting that Tottenham have joined the hunt for the 25-year-old’s signature but will face stiff competition from Liverpool and West Ham.

And much like former Ajax man Christian Eriksen, Ziyech has started to fulfil his potential this season, becoming a leading figure for the Dutch outfit.

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Ziyech’s potential was no more apparent than in last years Europa League, where his performances earned Ajax a place against Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United in the final.

Spurs can take a lot of positives when considering a move for Ziyech; it was only five years ago when they signed Christian Eriksen, who at the time was another young, promising playmaker looking for bigger and better things beyond Ajax and the Eredivisie.

Since making the move from FC Twente to the Dutch capital in 2016 for a cool £9million, Ziyech has improved leaps and bounds much like his predecessor Christian Eriksen did.

This improvement was rewarded this season when Ziyech was voted  Ajax’ player of the season; surely a strong hint that the Morrocan is living up to his hype.

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It was only last summer Spurs signed Ziyech’s former Ajax teammate Davinson Sanchez and the way he has settled into life in the Premier League this season could be a glimpse at what Ziyech could do.

It remains to be seen whether or not Spurs will pursue the speculation, but one thing that is for sure is that Ziyech is the real deal, and taking a chance on him could prove to be money well spent.