Leeds United are looking to sign a new left-winger this month. One of the top targets is Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk.
The Whites are preparing for a second successive trip to Nottingham Forest this week as we kickstart our EFL Cup run against Oliver Glasner’s side.
Our mood is of course high after a win over the Reds on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, transfer plans continue to bubble in the background.
Leeds United deal to sign Mykhailo Mudryk off as Chelsea rule out Elland Road loan
Last week, United were reported as in talks to sign Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk on loan following his return from a doping ban this summer.
However, we were rebuffed in that initial approach. Now, it has been claimed by Ben Jacobs and BBC reporter Nizaar Kinsella that Chelsea are no longer considering the Whites as an option.
Unsurprisingly, Chelsea have BlueCo sister club Strasbourg as a potential option, like several of their fringe players.
Leeds, though, are claimed to be a priority of Mudryk. The 25-year-old wants to remain in the Premier League to get back to his feet.
Adam Pope drops intriguing Mykhailo Mudryk, Leeds United transfer update
Chelsea have insisted that Leeds are not on the table for the Ukrainian winger. However, Adam Pope has suggested otherwise.
Speaking on the Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, Pope believes that the door isn’t totally shut for Mudryk at Elland Road. His preference is still on a possible moving to West Yorkshire.
“Chelsea seem keen on sending him to Strasbourg,” Pope said. “But, he seems keen on Premier League football and apparently, seems keen on Leeds.
“So, I think this is continuing. It sounds like it could be a tug-of-war even within Chelsea itself. I understand he’s pretty keen to come to Elland Road. There’s different forces at work, some might feel it’s closed off.
“I just can’t get my head around the finances, if they go in-house (Strasbourg), you’ve still got all the cost of it. Whereas if he comes to Leeds, you’re getting the loan, the wages, it’s a strange one. Maybe they’re just playing hard ball.”
Key sticking point for Mykhailo Mudryk loan to Leeds United must be guarantee of minutes
Chelsea, understandably, want Mudryk to play as often as possible to regain the form he showed in flashes pre-ban.
However, any club that signs him are taking on plenty of risk with the unknowns of Mudryk’s current condition.
Leeds can’t really guarantee starts every game for someone that may not be up to match sharpness for weeks and weeks. That’s just not how Daniel Farke has ever played the game as Leeds boss.
So, that may well be the sticking point here – Leeds being unable to tell Chelsea that Mudryk will play as many minutes as possible.
In an ideal world, Mudryk signs and we see immediately that he’s ready to take the burden off Noah Okafor. But, we’re not in an ideal world. Leeds will know there’s a lot of risk attached to signing Musdryk off the back of a near-two-year ban.
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