Chelsea add Mudryk to shortlist after Gakpo hijack bid fails

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 1 Jan 2023 18:17 GMT
• 4 min read

Chelsea have added Arsenal transfer target Mykhailo Mudryk to their shortlist ahead of the January window, with the Blues having failed in an attempt to hijack Liverpool’s move for Cody Gakpo.

The Stamford Bridge side are known to want to bolster their attacking options over the month ahead, despite spending a world-record sum on transfers in the summer.

Chelsea have already signed David Datro Fofana from Molde and have agreed a deal to sign RB Leipzig attacker Christopher Nkunku in the summer, but an oven-ready addition to the first-team squad could come in the next month.

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According to the Guardian, Mudryk is one player that they have added to their shortlist as a priority.

Arsenal have been credited with leading the race for the Ukraine international since the summer but have so far been put off by Shakhtar Donetsk’s firm stance over a transfer fee.

The Ukrainians have intimated that they feel that Mudryk is worth the same as Jack Grealish, who left Aston Villa for Manchester City in 2021 for €118 million, and while receiving a similar figure is fanciful, they have so far held firm on their asking price of around €100m.

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It had previously been expected that Shakhtar would sell for around €60m in January, with Mudryk having gone public on his unhappiness about the high asking price of his club.

Arsenal, though, have seen a bid for the player thought to be worth around €62m rejected, potentially opening the floor for Chelsea to swoop in with a superior offer.

Chelsea in failed Gakpo transfer bid

Chelsea’s intent does seem to be to add another wide attacker to their ranks, with reports from the Netherlands that they failed in an attempt to land PSV’s Cody Gakpo.

Eindhovens Dagblad reports that the Blues made a late swoop to pinch the Netherlands international, with a bid worth €40m knocked back before Liverpool eventually secured the signature of the 23-year-old.

With Arsenal seemingly reticent to match Shakhtar’s lofty asking price for Mudryk, Chelsea’s hijack attempt could be more successful here.