Chelsea have made a dramatic attempt to hijack Arsenal’s touted transfer move for Mykhailo Mudryk.
As first reported by football journalist Fabrizio Romano and confirmed by GOAL, the Blues flew to Turkey to agree an £88 million deal to sign the winger from Shakhtar Donetsk.
And now personal terms between Chelsea and Mudryk for a seven-year contract have also been agreed, with the player ready to head to London for a medical.
While Premier League leaders Arsenal had been confident that Mudryk would hold out for a move to the Emirates, Chelsea moved at breakneck speed to agree a deal with Shakhtar and convince the 22-year-old to join them.
Chelsea are now hopeful of concluding the deal over the weekend, with one source indicating to Telegraph Sport that the Mudryk transfer was “done.”
Arsenal’s second bid for Mudryk was reported to be £62m up front, rising to between £75m and £80m, but Chelsea matched Shakhtar’s valuation after co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali and director of global talent and transfers Paul Winstanley travelled to Turkey where Shakhtar are currently based.
Chelsea’s bid, which was accepted, was £62m up front, rising to £88m in add-ons and positive talks were held with Mudryk and his representatives.
The decision to sign Mudryk demonstrates more backing for head coach Graham Potter, with his squad currently decimated by injuries and suspensions.
Arsenal were said to be stunned by the size of Chelsea’s move but had always insisted they would not be drawn into a bidding war for Mudryk.
Chelsea had opened talks with Shakhtar over Mudryk last month with officials from the Ukrainian club attending last week’s Premier League defeat to Manchester City as guests of co-owner Todd Boehly.
The Blues had backed off making a bid for Mudryk without knowing whether or not he would join them and were reluctant to pay anywhere near Shakhtar’s asking price, despite always being confident they could outbid Arsenal.
But, having signed Joao Felix on loan last week, Chelsea decided to make a big push to try to add 22-year-old Mudryk to their squad and deal a serious blow to Arsenal.
Chelsea have also made an opening £26.5m offer for PSV Eindhoven winger Noni Madueke, with talks ongoing, and are interested in a host of midfielders including Brighton’s Moises Caicedo.
If Mudryk completes his move to Chelsea, as is now expected, it will mark the second time this month that Arsenal have lost out to their London rivals in the race for an attacker.
Arsenal were also interested in signing Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid, before the forward agreed his move to Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal always ensure they have alternative options for target positions in each transfer window but there is also an acceptance within the club that the January window is a difficult time to do business.
