Chelsea could hit pause on their transfer plans while they go all out to sign Moises Caicedo for Mauricio Pochettino this summer and that could prove to be the good news Mykhaylo Mudryk has been waiting for. The £88million winger has endured a tough first six months at Stamford Bridge since his high-profile switch from Shakhtar Donetsk, but he has been tipped to play an important role next season with Pochettino as his boss, and a recent change in the Blues’ strategy may be pivotal to his development.
Pochettino has seen more players leave than arrive at Stamford Bridge this summer with only three new signings since the Argentine took charge, not including Christopher Nkunku, who agreed to join the club last season from RB Leipzig and only recently met his new team-mates.
The 51-year-old is keen for Caicedo to form part of his midfield three with Enzo Fernandez and another midfield signing cannot be ruled out either, with Gabri Veiga among those on their list. Brighton have turned down their latest offer of around £70m, with Chelsea pooling their resources into signing the Ecuadorian.
But in the background, transfer chiefs have reportedly been plotting a move for Lyon teenager Rayan Cherki as a potential replacement for Christian Pulisic after the American signed for AC Milan. Cherki is rated at around £43m by the French club as he is already a first-team regular at the age of just 19.
However, a report from GiveMeSport says the west London side may be prepared to postpone their move for Cherki until 2024.
The club have put ‘a lot of hard work in’ to negotiate a deal for Cherki, but it could be that his move is pushed back a year to allow him to continue developing at Lyon.
The French youngster has already made 102 appearances for his boyhood club, scoring 14 goals in all competitions.
And as a winger with the capability to play on either flank, Cherki would likely compete with Mudryk for a place in the first team if he were to take the plunge and move to the Premier League.
If his move does hit the rocks, though, it will provide some much-needed relief to Mudryk. Instead of worrying about competition with another youngster, he can focus on battling for his place next season with Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke and finding his form on the pitch.
Mudryk struggled to adjust after leaving Ukraine in January, although he did so having not played for six weeks and was short of fitness. A bright debut cameo and two assists aside, his glimpses of individual brilliance have been far and few between in the Premier League.
But with pre-season fast approaching, Mudryk will be itching to open his Chelsea account as the club embark on a tour of the USA.
With Pochettino, he does have a coach who is perhaps more understanding than most about the need to nurture young players and give them time to flourish. Certainly, Mudryk has to prove to Pochettino he is worthy of a place and that will not happen without hard work on the training ground.
Mudryk is also yet to win over the demanding Chelsea fanbase after some sluggish displays. But his impressive performances at the Under-21 European Championship with Ukraine were promising enough to suggest there is more to come.
Next season, it may be time for Mudryk to turn over a new leaf at Stamford Bridge – and become the star Todd Boehly moved heaven and earth to capture.
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