Van der Vaart reveals he has advised Spurs boss Levy to sign Ajax star Ziyech
Tottenham Hotspur icon Rafael van der Vaart says he has advised club chairman Daniel Levy to sign Ajax marvel Hakim Ziyech.
The Dutchman believes Ziyech would be a “sensation” in north London and could replace Christian Eriksen, whose future remains uncertain.
Is Ziyech the ideal Eriksen replacement? Five things to know…
- Eriksen will see his current Spurs contract expire at the end of the season.
- The Dane is yet to pen a new deal and will be free to negotiate with foreign clubs in January.
- Van der Vaart believes he may have found the ideal heir to Eriksen’s throne.
- Ziyech was instrumental as Ajax reached the Champions League semi-final last season.
- He has already rejected a move to Sevilla in the summer but could be swayed if a club presents “the perfect picture”.
The Danish playmaker is in the final 12 months of his current deal and is yet to agree fresh terms, with foreign clubs free to approach him on January 1.
As such, it is widely believed Eriksen will depart Spurs at the end of the season, but Van der Vaart believes he has identified the perfect successor.
“I really hope he goes to Tottenham Hotspur, I sent a message today to [Daniel] Levy, I said: Get Ziyech after this season,” Van der Vaart told Voetbal Primeur.
“I am convinced that he becomes a sensation in London, and I also wish him that.
“I hope Spurs takes him and we will see.”
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How good is Ziyech?
Ziyech rose to meteoric prominence last season with much of the Ajax squad after the Amsterdammers came within seconds of reaching the Champions League final.
The Moroccan starred as part of a phenomenal attacking trident alongside Dusan Tadic and David Neres, scoring 21 goals and registering 24 assists across all competitions in 2018/19 as Ajax clinched a domestic double.
He was named the club’s Player of the Year, ahead of Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt, while he was also listed in the Champions League Squad of the Season and Eredivisie Team of the Year.
This season he is enjoying a similar rich vein of form, so far scoring six goals and registering nine assists, making him very hot property across Europe.
