Is this FC Twente star the Eredivise’s replacement for Memphis Depay?

FC Twente have struggled this season and are still in the middle of a financial crisis. However, there has been a shining light in their side that has given fans something to get excited about. Hakim Ziyech is a player that many wouldn’t have heard of, but he has filled the gap left by Memphis Depay in the Eredivisie and is arguably the league’s best player. There is a lot of scepticism surrounding the Eredivisie, especially when it comes to goal tallies as many have left the league and struggled elsewhere. Although it is impossible not to be in awe at the league’s youth development and Ziyech is the latest who could develop into a huge star.

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The 23-year-old is a modern attacking midfielder, who is dynamic in the final third. He has good vision and is capable of picking passes that few can; as highlighted in many of his assists this season. He is difficult to play against as he can score from distance and play through balls to his teammates, making defenders unsure how to deal with him. His anticipation in the final third is excellent and he often finds himself in the right place at the right time. Ziyech has scored a lot of free kicks in the Eredivisie and is a specialist from dead ball situations. His only weaknesses are his defensive contribution and that he sometimes makes the wrong decisions in the final third. The former can be addressed on the training ground; while the latter will improve as he gains more experience.

He is now in his third full season in the Dutch top flight and his improvement year-on-year has been sensational. Ziyech is an attacking midfielder, capable of filling any role behind the striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation. He is given a lot of freedom at FC Twente, which allows him to thrive, with this season seeing him score 17 goals from midfield. This is in addition to his 10 assists, showing that he has lots of quality in the final third. He is involved in a goal every 102.7 minutes. To give this some context, Memphis Depay was involved in a goal every 95 minutes and he was playing in the side that won the title.

FC Twente are currently in 13th position in the league, which highlights their fall from regulars in Europe to fighting in the bottom half of the table. If they didn’t have Hakim Ziyech, they would almost certainly have been in the relegation battle and that shows the amazing character that he possesses. At the age of 23, he has already shown he can handle the pressure of carrying a team, while he has continued to work hard, despite his side selling important players last summer. This will stand him in good stead as he progresses in his career.

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The Moroccan is very much a player that puts his career before money. This was shown when he joined FC Twente from SC Heerenveen. He wanted assurances about playing the number ten role, which were given by FC Twente. Ziyech was also talking to Feyenoord, who were rebuilding their side after a lot of players left the club. They were offering more money and a bigger chance of success, but they favoured Lex Immers in the number ten role and told Ziyech as much. Immers is now on loan at Cardiff City while Ziyech has developed into one of the best, if not the best, player in Holland. Feyenoord made a big mistake and clubs this summer need to make sure they don’t make the same one and pass up on Ziyech, even if it means guaranteeing him first team football.

Ziyech has outgrown the league in a similar way to Depay last season, but the main difference is that there won’t be the media hype surrounding the FC Twente man. This will almost certainly mean that he will be available for a good price, especially given his club’s financial issues. A lot of Premier League clubs should be looking at him this summer as he has the ability to do well in England. Clubs outside the top six need to be scouting the smaller leagues to find hidden gems in order to compete and Ziyech certainly fits that description. There will be lots of clubs across Europe scouting the creative midfielder and it will be interesting to see where he ends up. If it is the Premier League, we are in for a real treat as Hakim Ziyech is going to develop into a very good player.

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