Chelsea 'to monitor Hakim Ziyech for rest of season'

Chelsea will reportedly keep close tabs on Ajax playmaker Hakim Ziyech for the remainder of the season with a view to a possible summer move for the attacker.

Blues boss Frank Lampard is set to be handed a £150m transfer kitty at the end of the campaign, having been unable to make a single signing during his two windows in charge of the club so far.

Chelsea were banned from bringing in any new faces last summer and then failed to bolster their ranks in January despite Lampard's desire for reinforcements.

The Telegraph reports that Ziyech was one of the players Chelsea were interested in last month and that they will continue to monitor the 26-year-old's progress closely ahead of reviving their interest in the summer.

Ziyech only signed a new deal at Ajax last summer and the Dutch outfit ruled out letting him leave midway through the season, but they are reportedly expecting more bids for him at the end of the campaign.

The Morocco international has directly contributed to 29 goals in 29 games across all competitions this season, scoring eight and creating a further 21.