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Chelsea warned not to repeat €70m Mykhailo Mudryk mistake with new target
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 12 Mar 2026 12:36 GMT
- 4 min read
Analysis
Chelsea are considering a move for a rapidly rising Ukrainian star, but must learn the lessons they made from their mistake of signing Mykhailo Mudryk if they make a deal.
Taras Mykhavko of Dynamo Kyiv is the latest young star linked with a move to Chelsea, with the Blues and Manchester United tracking the 20-year-old, according to a report from TeamTalk.
It’s claimed the Premier League clubs are ready to go “head-to-head” over a player described as a “Ukrainian gem” – but this is a market the Stamford Bridge side have been burned in before and should be wary of.
Current ETV
Taras Mykhavko
D (C)
Dynamo Kyiv
Taras Mykhavko
D (C)
Dynamo Kyiv
ETV Range
€7.5M - €10.1M
Chelsea’s Mudryk error
Mudryk was signed by Chelsea from Premier Liga side Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 amid heavy competition from Arsenal.
Even before the 25-year-old was banned for failing a drug test, it was a deal in which Chelsea had looked suitably ripped off. The €70 million Mudryk has scored just five goals for the West London side in 53 Premier League appearances.
Prior to the deal being completed, the warning signs were there. The Ukraine international had an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of around €15m. Chelsea dramatically overpaid initially and are now stuck the winger until 2031.
It’s been a disastrous transfer for the Blues – and one they can scarcely afford to repeat.
Is Mykhavko another Mudryk?
Forget the clear difference in position between Mykhavko and Mudryk: can he be successful at a Premier League club like Chelsea?
On the positive side, he is one of the best performing centre-backs in the Ukrainian Premier Liga this season while physically he compares well to his peers, rated by data analytics firm SciSports as being fast with high stamina compared to those around him.
But there are warning signs, too, that Chelsea should heed.
Over the last six months, he has endured a period of what SciSports describes as “significant decline”, which is surprising for a player in his age bracket.
On top of this, the analytics firm believes that Mykhavko will never be more than a rotation player for the Blues, even at his best.
The youngster is given a peak potential skill – calculated by SciSports using hundreds of in-game data points – of 75.4. This puts him below the current values of Levi Colwill (78.3) and Trevoh Chalobah (77.3). Furthermore, Chelsea have a raft of centre-backs with a far higher ceiling, including Mamadou Sarr, Jorrel Hato and Wesley Fofana.
Stamford Bridge a good destination for development
Chelsea, though, is seen as a positive destination for Mykhavko – on the basis that he is prepared to be patient.
In SciSports’ Career Advice tool, Liam Rosenior’s side are given a Club Fit score of 69 based on a wide variety of factors ranging from development opportunities and playing time to style and formation. The higher the score, the greater the likelihood the player will succeed at the club.
Encouragingly, the Blues score well for development, which is a central reason for their pursuit of the youngster. This suggests that there is a good chance he will reach his best and the club, perhaps even surpassing SciSports’ estimates.
A smart move at the right price
Ultimately, though, this deal will be settled by what type of price Chelsea can negotiate for Mykhavko.
While the Blues erred by signing Mudryk for big-money, if they can snap up his compatriot for around his €8m valuation, there is every chance they will be able to develop him and sell how down the line at a profit – even if his first-team impact is negligible.
At low cost, this is a low-risk deal and exactly the type of market opportunity that Chelsea owners BlueCo are seeking to exploit.
Related stories:
Liam Rosenior's naivety epitomises BlueCo strategy as Chelsea system backfires
Chelsea ready to sign in-form striker who loves Estevao
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