Chelsea want to steal Mykhaylo Mudryk from Arsenal
Chelsea are set to have talks with Shakhtar Donetsk in the coming days in an attempt to hijack Arsenal’s plans to sign Mykhailo Mudryk.
Todd Boehly, the Chelsea chairman, is in London and has scheduled meetings which include both Shakhtar and Benfica, with whom they are trying to negotiate a deal for Enzo Fernández.
Fernández, the World Cup-winning Argentina midfielder, has been attempting to push through a move to Stamford Bridge after Benfica turned down an offer of about £112 million, to be paid in instalments. The 21-year-old missed training this week but has now returned to Lisbon.
Arsenal stepped up their pursuit of Mudryk this week by making a new offer after an initial bid of £55 million was rejected by the Ukrainian club. Shakhtar are asking for an £85 million fee for Mudryk, who has already agreed personal terms with Arsenal on a five-year deal.
Chelsea have been locked in talks with Benfica over buying Fernández but are unwilling to meet his £106 million release clause outright, instead suggesting a structure of instalments.
The Portuguese club have been aiming to persuade Fernández to remain there until the end of the season by highlighting Benfica’s chances in the Champions League and the prospect of winning the Portuguese league, which they lead by five points.
Fernández, who was one of the outstanding performers during Argentina’s triumphant World Cup campaign in Qatar, is keen to complete the move to Stamford Bridge and missed training after returning from celebrations in South America. Fernández was back at Benfica’s headquarters on Tuesday afternoon.
The Benfica president Rui Costa has already held talks with Fernández in an attempt to convince him to stay, having only joined the club from River Plate six months ago in a deal worth £9 million. River Plate are due about 25 per cent of any sell-on fee for Fernández, which could reach £28 million if a deal is done this month.
Chelsea have always been reluctant to meet the release clause and fear they may have to wait until the summer if Benfica are not flexible on their demands. Benfica do not need to sell and their finances are already healthy after Darwin Núñez’s £85 million move to Liverpool in June.
Chelsea have already considered alternate options should they fail to sign Fernández, which includes exploring a move for fellow Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, of Brighton & Hove Albion.
N’Golo Kanté and Jorginho, both 31, are in talks with Chelsea over extending their deals, having entered the final six months in January which entitles them to speak with overseas clubs and sign pre-contract agreements.
Kanté has not featured for Chelsea since August while Jorginho has been partnered in midfield by Denis Zakaria since the return of domestic football, with Mateo Kovacic recovering from the World Cup campaign.
Kovacic came on as a substitute in the second-half of Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest on Sunday but Zakaria says he will be readying himself to start in Thursday’s league clash against Manchester City.
“It is a difficult time for us but it will improve in the future, for sure,” Zakaria said, with Graham Potter’s side on a run of one league win in seven games. “I will be ready like always. We’re looking forward to play in a top football match. Against City, it is always really, really difficult so we will have to play well and score all our chances. We will have to do a big game, if we don’t do a big game against Manchester City then it is hard to win.”
