Tuchel shrugs off Ziyech transfer links

Since joining Chelsea from Ajax in July 2020,

has failed to establish himself as a regular starter at Chelsea. The Moroccan forward has featured in only four league games this season, with Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner, Mason Mount and Kai Havertz being regularly selected ahead of him.

Ziyech has been

with a move away from Chelsea due to his game time frustrations. However, Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel says the club have no intentions of selling the 28-year-old this winter.

“At the moment here in Cobham there are no thoughts about his future,”

Tuchel said.

“There are no thoughts about a potential change, swap deal or whatever in winter.

“I have talked to nobody about that here in Cobham. Hakim was not in my office expressing a wish like this so right now, he is a full member of the squad.”

He added:

“He was brilliant in pre-season. He had an injury which was a huge setback. He played after the shoulder injury with pain and with huge protection, which kept him from being totally free, which is necessary for his game and movements and position and style of play.

“Now he’s stepped up in the last games. We had some injuries and he took the chance to have more game time. He was decisive. He assisted, he scored, it’s good.

“He is an important guy, a very talented guy, a very ambitious guy, and he’s a full part of our squad.

“He was last season, he is this season and we expect the very best of him all the time. But it’s tough competition. I cannot let everybody play all the time 90 minutes. It’s simply impossible.”

Chelsea will return to action against

on Saturday. The Blues will then face Juventus in a Champions League match three days later.

Follow

for the

.