Arsenal & Chelsea told how much €150m 'next Mudryk' will really cost

Tom Weber

Updated: 29 Apr 2024 21:35 BST
4 min read

Georgiy Sudakov, Mykhailo Mudryk, Ukraine, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Shakhtar Donetsk sporting director Darijo Srna expects to fetch more than €60 million from Georgiy Sudakov's potential departure.

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The Ukraine international is one of Europe's most exciting up-and-coming midfielders. A technically brilliant, attack-minded dynamo who is not afraid to do the dirty work, Sudakov appears to be the full package and regularly chips in with goals and assists.

The 21-year-old has been quite open about his desire to play in a top-five league and he has no shortage of suitors. Napoli had a €40m-€50m bid knocked back in January and seemingly every European giant is keeping tabs on him.

His supposed suitors range from Barcelona to Juventus, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool. Sudakov recently penned a new contract with Shakhtar, adding a €150m release clause to his deal. This, in addition to the links with Arsenal and Chelsea and his close friendship with Mykhailo Mudryk, has evoked comparisons to the struggling Blues star who was also the subject of a bidding war between the two London giants.

Shakhtar's sporting director Darijo Srna has now, however, confirmed the suspicion that the Ukrainian powerhouse won't actually insist on clubs triggering Sudakov's inflated release clause.

Sudakov's real price

Speaking to Sport24, the Croatian legend was reluctant to mention any exact figures but he did reveal that he - or rather club president Sergei Palkin - expects to rake in more than €60m from a potential transfer.

"Shakhtar's president wants to get big money for Sudakov. If he wanted to get €40-45m, he would have already sold him to Napoli. But Sudakov is a unique football player. He does a crazy amount of work and has a head on his shoulders."

"There are not many such players in Europe. Sudakov will leave for a very large sum – I’m sure it will be more than €60m. All of Europe wants him." The youngster currently has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €14.3m.