Chelsea's different move in mind for 'rusty' Mykhailo Mudryk despite Tottenham agreement

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a loan deal for Mykhailo Mudryk, which would reunite the Ukraine international with former Shakhtar Donetsk head coach Roberto De Zerbi

Chelsea reportedly tried to push Mykhailo Mudryk towards Strasbourg before agreeing a loan deal with Tottenham Hotspur.

Mudryk, 25, is due to join Spurs on transfer deadline day, who will reportedly have a £75million option to sign the Ukraine international. Chelsea paid Shakhtar Donetsk a Ukrainian Premier League record £62million three and a half years ago, a deal that also included £26.5million in add-ons.

The winger has played just 73 times since then, missing the last season and a half while provisionally suspended by the Football Association for an anti-doping rule violation. However, all charges against Mudryk were dropped earlier this summer.

The Daily Mail claims that Chelsea liked the idea of a loan deal with their sister club to guarantee game time. Mudryk is thought to have wanted to stay in the Premier League, though, and will seemingly get his wish.

Talks with Leeds United over a deal took place last week after their opening offer was rejected as it was well below the terms Chelsea were prepared to accept. Several clubs in the Premier League and Europe have shown interest in Mudryk.

Spurs will seemingly now win out on deadline day. While it is felt Mudryk has looked 'rusty' in action so far this summer, Roberto De Zerbi spoke highly of his former Shakhtar player in August.

READ MORE: Follow our live updates on transfer deadline day as Chelsea explore incomings and outgoings!

He said of Mudryk: "He's my son, he's a cool guy, a top player, hopefully he can show what he suffered the last two seasons in this coming season, maybe not against Tottenham, but he's a lovely guy."

De Zerbi added on Shakhtar: "All people, I have to say thank you for what they gave me and for Misha the same, especially for Misha, because I left from there for the war, for war reasons.

"I left that team, that club, not for football, and it was an amazing team, amazing group, maybe the best level of football I've done."

READ MORE: Follow our live updates on transfer deadline day as Tottenham explore incomings and outgoings!

Before the move to Chelsea materialised, he said of Mudryk while Brighton & Hove Albion head coach: "Mudryk is a fantastic player, but Brighton can't buy him. I like him because I like all my ex-players, but I'm the Brighton coach, and Brighton can't buy Mudryk. Arsenal, I don't know."

He added: "I think Mudryk can win the Ballon d'Or in the future. I know the value of Mudryk; he has the potential to win the Ballon d'Or."

Mudryk made 19 of his 44 appearances for Shakhtar under De Zerbi, more than under any other coach. He scored just twice but assisted six goals.

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