Transfer rumours: Mudryk to leave Chelsea on loan with old club as potential destination

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By Martin Graham | 19th May 2023

News coming out of Stamford Bridge indicates that winter signing Mykhaylo Mudryk could leave the club on loan and return to his old club, Shakhtar Donetsk for the 2023/24 season.

Mudryk sealed a club-record transfer fee of £88 million for the Ukrainian Premier League giants last January but has struggled to live up to the price tag.

Several factors including the player’s initial willingness to play for Arsenal instead as well as the change in management from Thomas Tuchel to Graham Potter to Frank Lampard have been cited as reasons why the youngster, once sought after by several big European sides, has failed to replicate the form that led to agents of various clubs knocking at his and Shakhtar Donetsk’s doors.

A loan is now being touted by the media, as pundit and former Liverpool man Charlie Adam has claimed that incoming Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino may seek to send the forward elsewhere.

Speaking on BBC’s The Monday Night Club, Adam said about Mudryk’s situation: “It’s not easy when they’re on six or seven-year contracts. It’s not just what the owner wants, Pochettino is the man now. He has to make the decision.

“He might not fancy Mudryk. He might come in and say ‘Don’t want him’. “You have paid x amount for him, he’s on a seven-year contract. How do we get rid of him? There’s no way. He might end up on loan for three years.

“It’s about having to evaluate everything, FFP, the balance of the squad, young players coming through, they will have a problem with players out on loan next season because you can only have a certain amount out.”

Shakhtar Donetsk’s director of football, Darijo Srna, who played hardball with Arsenal as they sought to make the most profits from Mudryk’s transfer, posted a picture of him and Mudryk on his Instagram story on Wednesday. He captioned it, “We miss you,” complete with the Ukrainian flag and a crossed hammers emoji which is a symbolic representation of the imagery in Shakhtar’s badge.

Mudryk would repost it on his own story, indicating that he would be open to a return should the opportunity arise. While the Ukraine international’s repost may just be out of respect to the club that trained him and gave him his big break as a senior player, it could present an opportunity for Chelsea to help Mudryk find his feet again at the highest level.

Chelsea are looking to trim their squad down in the summer and a sale of some of their most expensive players like Mudryk will be hard to pull off. Loan deals could be the way forward in this case and with Mudryk still showing attachment to his old club, it could be an opportunity that the Blues will consider.

Arsenal are also looking into reinforcing their attack this summer and Mudryk could get what he initially wanted if Adam’s claims hold any water.

Pochettino will be in the stands to watch his new team take on Manchester City this weekend as he prepares for the new season.