Fabrizio Romano: Chelsea dropped Rafael Leao plan to sign Mykhaylo Mudryk instead
Fabrizio Romano, writing for his exclusive CaughtOffside column, has claimed that Chelsea wanted to sign AC Milan star Rafael Leao before investing money in Mykhaylo Mudryk instead.
The Blues signed the Ukraine international for 88million Pounds from Shakhtar Donetsk. He was a largely unknown figure for Premier League fans until the Blues’ interest in him.
Romano recently claimed that the Portugal international is set to sign a new deal with I Rossoneri and also rejected Manchester City’s interest in the 23-year-old. His current deal at San Siro expires in the summer of 2024 (Transfermarkt).
“Chelsea wanted Rafael Leao last August but then they invested in Mykhaylo Mudryk instead. Man City were never in the race recently. He’s very happy at Milan, the agreement is very close but not completed or signed yet. We have to wait and see at the end of the season.”
A mistake?
We also signed Raheem Sterling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last summer to strengthen our frontline. If given a choice between Leao and Mudryk – taking away the bias we may have inherited after the latter’s move to Stamford Bridge – many Chelsea fans would opt for the Portuguese.
And it would make sense. His development is further along the line than Mudryk’s, considering he has already become one of AC Milan’s best players.
The Portugal international won the 2021-22 Serie A MVP award as his team lifted the Scudetto. He has amassed 13 goals and as many assists in 42 games this season.
Mudryk has failed to hit the ground running. He was impressive on his debut in the 0-0 draw against Liverpool earlier this season but has since gone quiet, struggling to find starts under Graham Potter and then Frank Lampard.
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Of course, he is a long-term investment but that money could have been better utilised on a more experienced, more acclaimed player.
