Chelsea to follow confirmed Mudryk coup with ‘at least two more signings’, with £75m-rated Liverpool target next in Boehly’s sights
Chelsea are only just getting started in the winter window and a £75m-rated Liverpool target from within the Premier League could follow Mykhaylo Mudryk into Stamford Bridge, per a trusted source.
For all their struggles on the pitch this season, it cannot be said the club’s new ownership aren’t putting their money where their mouth is.
Chelsea have already signed rising stars David Datro Fofana and Andrey Santos this month. Benoit Badiashile arrived from Monaco for around £35m and was quickly thrust into the spotlight by manager Graham Potter.
The centre-half was named in the starting eleven for Chelsea’s clash with Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, while new signing Mykhaylo Mudryk was also photographed on the scene. Mudryk’s official arrival was confirmed by Chelsea during the first half of their Palace clash.
The Ukraine ace agreed terms over an eight-and-a-half year deal. Chelsea and Arsenal went toe-to-toe for the 22-year-old winger, but it was the Blues who put forward the more lucrative offer.
Shakhtar Donetsk will receive a package worth €100m for their star winger. The deal is split between €70m up front and a potential €30m in future add-ons.
Fabrizio Romano and the Independent both detailed the reasons Arsenal were left empty-handed over Mudryk. However, the Gunners have wasted little time in quickly lining up a high class alternative.
Mudryk will bolster Potter’s forward line along with loanee Joao Felix. However, according to CBS Sports’ Ben Jacobs, Chelsea’s business is far from complete.
Chelsea gunning for Brighton ace next
Jacobs tweeted “at least two more incoming” are expected, and stressed Liverpool target Moises Caicedo is “one to watch”.
The Brighton midfielder is reportedly valued around the £75m mark and would add steel to the club’s engine room.
N’Golo Kante has been the Blues top performer in that regard for many a year, though is out of contract at season’s end.
The widely-held belief is Kante will pen fresh terms, though even if he does, he’s 31 and has begun to struggle with injury more and more in recent times.
Jorginho too is a free agent at season’s end and is expected to depart. Caicedo, 21, would be a fine replacement for either Chelsea veteran.
The Ecuador international is also a known target of Jurgen Klopp’s Reds whose season sunk to a new low, ironically against Caicedo’s Brighton on Saturday.
Liverpool’s midfield issues are there for all to see, but Klopp has stressed the money simply isn’t there to act beyond the arrival of Cody Gakpo this month.
Their inability to pounce now could benefit Chelsea, though Jacobs acknowledged a deal won’t be easy to make. Nevertheless, it at least sounds like they’ll make the effort and explore a deal fully in the coming days.
Elsewhere, another addition in the forward ranks could come in the form of Marcus Thuram.
Gianluca Di Marzio’s website recently reported talks with the France international are ‘advanced’.
Thuram plies his trade for Borussia Monchengladbach and has entered the final six months of his deal.
A cut-price move this month would be to the benefit of both Chelsea and Gladbach. Thuram has scored 13 in 17 across all competitions this season after being converted into an out-and-out striker.
