Chelsea has reportedly surged ahead in the competition to acquire the talents of Georgiy Sudakov from Shakhtar Donetsk, a prospect sought after by Manchester United and Arsenal as well. Sudakov, aged 21, is widely esteemed as one of the most promising young players in European football and has been a consistent presence for his club since the onset of 2021.
Since his debut for the Ukrainian powerhouse in October 2020, Sudakov has amassed 15 goals in 91 appearances across various competitions. Despite his youth, Sudakov boasts considerable international experience, having earned 13 caps for Ukraine’s senior national team.
As reported by TEAMtalk, Chelsea is endeavoring to gain an advantage over other prominent European clubs in securing Sudakov’s services during the upcoming summer transfer window. Allegedly, Mauricio Pochettino’s side intensified negotiations with Shakhtar on Wednesday, exploring the possibility of luring the midfielder to Stamford Bridge.
However, Chelsea faces competition from Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United, both of whom are also expressing interest in Sudakov. Although initially believed to be leading the pursuit, Arsenal now finds itself trailing behind Chelsea, who has seemingly taken the lead in the race for Sudakov’s signature.
Manchester United, on the other hand, has initiated discussions with Shakhtar regarding a potential transfer of the young midfielder to the red side of Manchester in the summer.
While Manchester City, under the leadership of Pep Guardiola, is monitoring Sudakov’s progress, their pursuit appears less aggressive compared to Chelsea’s efforts.
Further interest in Sudakov has been expressed by Serie A clubs Juventus and Napoli, indicating the potential for a bidding war to emerge for the midfielder’s signature.
It has been disclosed that Shakhtar turned down a €40m (£34.3m) offer from reigning Italian champions, Juventus, as they prepare for the departure of their prized asset. Meanwhile, Napoli’s Victor Osimhen is attracting attention from various clubs ahead of the summer transfer window, with both Arsenal and Chelsea reportedly interested in the Nigerian striker.
Regarding Sudakov’s valuation, Shakhtar is reportedly seeking approximately €100m (£85.8m) for the 13-time international, reflecting the club’s familiarity with high-value transfers involving Premier League clubs.
In a previous transfer saga, Chelsea outbid their London rivals Arsenal to secure the signing of Mykhaylo Mudryk from Shakhtar for £89m in January 2023.