The wizard Hakim Ziyech, the one who can turn Chelsea from near-men into title challengers

All the earnings at Chelsea put fans under their necks before the new season, and rightly so.

Timo Werner broke goalscoring records galore in Germany, Kai Havertz came in with a great reputation having been dubbed the next Michael Ballack, while Brazil captain Thiago Silva brought a wealth of technical know-how to win trophies from behind. .

However, one firm that went unnoticed, given how early the deal was closed and the fact that the new campaign started injured, was the acquisition of Hakim Ziyech. Two career starts in the Premier League, and there’s no question which of the myriad of new faces he has wowed the most.

The former Ajax winger attracted attention with his performances against Tottenham in the Champions League last year, and Chelsea moved quickly to sign up their main goal: the trade was completed in February.

Then we had to wait until October to be treated with Ziyech in blue. But there have been no bedding in the period. Everything but.

After a goal in his full debut against Krasnodar in the Champions League, Ziyech has gone from strength to surprise. It was followed by a goal and an assist against Burnley before, in his next Premier League outing, he put the Blades on the sword at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The visitors even got a warning, with Ziyech promising to bring “beautiful football” in an interview on the match program, and after watching his team fall behind, Ziyech’s actions spoke louder than his words, with his sumptuous pass. placing Mateo Kovacic in the building. -until Tammy Abraham’s tie, before a swirling evil crusader unlocked Sheffield United, Ben Chilwell put the finishing touch to push her side to the front.

Not made there, another effervescent one-inch perfect center set up Thiago Silva for Chelsea’s third, before the game’s pass set Werner free, with the German polishing his lines.

Ziyech’s pace and effervescence at those crosses makes them nearly impossible to defend, and provides Chelsea with a weapon that most can only wish to possess.

“We play against [Hakim Ziyech] in the Champions League last year, “Lampard said after the game.” He is a first-class player.

And that’s exactly the reason why Chelsea can now be considered a serious title contender. Finishing in the top four, having spent over £ 200 million on players, in the shortsighted sport that is football, is no longer good enough.

Bringing Chelsea to a level above fourth place will not be easy. Werner could turn out to be the man to do just that, as could Havertz.

However, according to this evidence, the man with the real x factor is the magic man Ziyech. With a wand from a left foot, and a cross that will find the head, or upper thigh as was the case with Chilwell, of a crowd of willing Chelsea forwards or even full-backs, Ziyech has the tools to get the engine. Chelsea was launched at full speed.