Liverpool Transfer News: Hakim Ziyech Linked in Latest Rumours

Liverpool are reportedly interested in a summer move for Ajax midfield maestro Hakim Ziyech.

According to Calciomercato.com (h/t Sport Witness' Lucas Sposito), the Reds are "renewing" their interest in the player, having been admirers of him last summer, and his agent has been in England and Italy lately amid speculation about Ziyech's future.

Sposito noted there has not been an official offer from anyone for the Morocco international yet and that aside from Liverpool, local rivals Everton and Borussia Dortmund are also tracking the 25-year-old.

The man himself has suggested he's ready for a change of club this summer too, per Ajax Life (h/t Football Italia).

"From the January transfer window, I have been clear that it was my intention to leave Ajax in the summer," the playmaker said. "However, the situation has to be right at the next club. If that is not the case, then I will stay."

Soccrates Images/Getty Images

Ziyech moved to Ajax in the summer of 2016, having previously excelled with Twente. Since the switch, he's blossomed into one of the most talented players in the Eredivisie.

As WhoScored.com noted, he was the easily the most creative footballer in the league in 2017/18:

There's no doubt he's made major strides during his two years at Amsterdam Arena. When moving to Ajax, some players are a little daunted by the extra pressure, but Ziyech has seized his opportunity.

While at Twente, he was a No. 10. But Ziyech has operated a little deeper with his current club, where he can get on the ball more often and have more space to burst into. The more withdrawn position doesn't stop him from being effective, either, with nine goals and 15 assists in the Dutch top flight.

As Dutch football journalist Priya Ramesh noted, Ziyech was a deserving Player of the Year winner:

It would be intriguing to see him at Anfield. In practice, Ziyech's creativity would further enhance the effectiveness of Liverpool's attack; the likes of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane could all benefit from the Ajax's man's inventiveness on the ball.

He would be a stylistic replacement for Philippe Coutinho, who departed for Barcelona in the January transfer window. Being left-sided, Ziyech would also offer balance in the middle of the park.

Per Goal, Ziyech is also effective in wide areas when required:

The worry for the midfielder at Liverpool would be his ability to fit into Jurgen Klopp's high-intensity setup. For all his class, Ziyech does lack some dynamism off the ball and isn't someone who will snap into tackles.

It's also important he continues playing regularly as he moves into the peak years of his career. With midfield options aplenty already at Liverpool and Naby Keita arriving at the club ahead of next term, there's no guarantee Ziyech would be a first-team regular on Merseyside.