Chelsea’s acquisition of Mykhailo Mudryk for £88.5 million from Shakhtar Donetsk in January was met with high expectations, as the young forward had impressed during his time at Shakhtar. Initially, there was interest from Arsenal in signing him, but Chelsea’s co-owner and chairman, Todd Boehly, swiftly secured his transfer.
Mudryk expressed his excitement about joining Chelsea and the Premier League, looking forward to working with then-head coach Graham Potter. However, things didn’t go as planned for Mudryk after his arrival in west London. Potter was replaced by Frank Lampard, and the young winger struggled to find his form. Now, under Mauricio Pochettino’s management, Mudryk faces the pressure to deliver, especially given his hefty price tag.
Journalist Dean Jones has pointed out that Mudryk needs to step up his performances at Stamford Bridge. Jones also highlighted the expectations on Ben Chilwell, who has become a crucial player for Chelsea. He suggested that Mudryk must elevate his game to match the performance level Chilwell brings to the team.
The situation at Chelsea is challenging, with the team collecting only four points out of a potential 12 at the beginning of the season under Pochettino. This has raised concerns among fans and pundits about the club’s recent expensive acquisitions, including Mudryk and Marc Cucurella, who cost £60 million.
Jones emphasized that Chelsea needs Mudryk to make a significant impact and questioned whether Cucurella can provide the same level of service as Chilwell. While Chilwell excels as an attacking left-back, Mudryk is expected to contribute as a winger, and this is where he needs to improve his performance to justify his transfer fee.
