Has Boehly learned nothing!? Chelsea risk Mudryk repeat with transfer plans

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 25 Mar 2024 09:44 GMT
• 4 min read

Chelsea have not been put off chasing some of the world’s brightest young talents, despite a succession of disappointments in the transfer market headlined by Mykhailo Mudryk.

The Ukraine international winger joined the Blues in January 2023 for €70 million after the Stamford Bridge side won an almighty arm wrestle with Arsenal to sign the winger.

Mudryk has ultimately been a disappointment at Chelsea so far. In 47 matches, he has just six goals and five assists, and while there has been some improvement this season, there has been scant evidence that he will prove worth his transfer fee.

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Worse for the Blues, he is tied to the club until 2031, making him complicated to move on, even if his wage is relatively modest given the enormous value of his signing.

Chelsea remain stoically committed to their pursuit of rising talent, though.

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Chelsea to gamble on Cubarsi and Messinho

Ahead of the summer transfer window, two major young talents are now being linked with the Stamford Bridge side for big money. The fact that, like Mudryk, they have limited top-level experience does not appear to be putting them off.

The first name linked with Chelsea is Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi, who has exploded onto the scene in recent weeks. He was notably named man of the match as Xavi’s side overcame Victor Osimhen and Napoli to move through to the Champions League quarter-finals. The Nigeria international, who is expected to move to the Blues in the summer, was impressively quelled.

With 13 games for Barcelona under his belt, Mauricio Pochettino’s side should be forgiven for considering gambling a mere €10m on a player who has adapted to senior football so impressively.

A bigger bet is Estevao Willian of Palmeiras, who has already been dubbed Messinho – much to his annoyance.

“I don't like being called Messinho because my name is Estevao and I'm going to be Estevao,” he told AS. “On the field I am Estevao and I am very happy and grateful for it. Personally, I don't like that last name Messinho, I prefer Estevao.”

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The 16-year-old winger has a release clause of €60m and Fabrizio Romano has hinted they may be willing to trigger that figure in order to beat numerous European suitors to land the teenage sensation.

“Chelsea scouts have been in attendance since all the way back in October - the interest is there, even if there haven’t been any negotiations yet. It’s not easy to pay that kind of money of course, and that is why even though Barcelona are interested, they might not find it easy as they also recently invested big money in signing another Brazilian gem Vitor Roque,” Romano says.

With just five first-team appearances under his belt, this would represent a huge gamble for Chelsea, who have already seen a similarly hyped player in Mudryk fail.