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      Arsenal DID match Chelsea’s £88m transfer bid for Mudryk as Shakhtar Donetsk chief reveals nearly TWO MONTHS of talks

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      ARSENAL matched Chelsea’s £88million offer for Mykhail Mudryk… but missed out due to the Blues’ more “achievable” bonuses.The Gunners seemed to be closing in on a move for the Ukrainian, 22, ahead of the January transfer window.
      Mykhailo Mudryk was confirmed by Chelsea on SundayCredit: Getty
      Shakhtar Donetsk forward Mudryk had been hinting about joining Mikel Arteta’s side and a deal appeared to be in the final stages before Chelsea swooped in to seal an eight-and-a-half-year contract.
      In an interview with The Athletic, Shakhtar chief executive Sergei Palkin revealed Arsenal had made their first contact with the player in “October or November”.
      By contrast, the Blues did not enter negotiations until the end of December.
      But Chelsea’s co-owner Behdad Eghbali and director of global transfers Paul Winstanley swiftly flew out to meet Mudryk in Turkey and brought him back to London on a private jet.
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      A lucrative transfer was then finalised and personal terms were agreed.
      It was initially understood that Arsenal had failed to match Chelsea’s offer, something Palkin has refuted.
      He said: “When they (Arsenal) proposed the final offer of €70million (£62m) plus €30million (£26m) in add-ons, we sat down and started to talk internally about how it will be fulfilled in terms of the payments, the fixed part and the bonus issues. 
      “We realised we will not close this deal (with Arsenal). I said to Edu (the Gunners sporting director) that I did my best but it was not possible.”
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      The nature of Chelsea’s payment process was a far more favourable one for Shakhtar compared to the proposition Arsenal had put forward.
      Bonuses within the Blues’ transfer bid included winning the Premier League and Champions League before his contract expires in 2030.

      These were deemed to be “achievable” goals that he can attain at Stamford Bridge.
      Palkin continued: “These bonuses should be somehow achievable and realistic, let’s say. Therefore, in this case, Chelsea was much more serious and fair in some points.
      “When we met Chelsea, we stayed all together. For you to understand the context, it was for nine or 10 hours. They invited the player and explained to us the whole project.
      “We realised that, yes, if you look right now, Chelsea have some kinds of problems but it is normal because they have a transition period from one owner to another. 
      “It is understandable. They would like to change a lot. So when they explain to you the whole story and you look for the next two, three, four, five years, then you see they have a serious project.
      “I believe they will build one of the best clubs in the world because I am telling you, they are very serious in all directions: sports science, the stadium side, the commercial side, on all things. For us, they looked very ambitious.”
      It was revealed on Monday that Shakhtar will donate £20.5m of the £88m transfer fee to help Ukraine’s war effort following the Russian invasion.
      Mudryk played just 44 games for Shakhtar, contributing 12 goals and 17 assists.
      He has also been capped eight times by Ukraine but is yet to register a goal contribution.
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      Meanwhile, Chelsea currently sit 10th in the Premier League table.
      They are 10 points adrift of the top four and a huge 19 behind league leaders Arsenal. More

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      Chelsea ‘still chasing £27m transfer for PSV’s ex-Tottenham winger Noni Madueke despite staggering £97m Mudryk swoop’

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      CHELSEA are reportedly still chasing £27million winger Noni Madueke – despite just splashing out £97m on Mykhailo Mudryk.The Blues stunned Arsenal by hijacking the deal for the Ukrainian winger.
      Noni Madueke is a target for Chelsea in the transfer windowCredit: Getty
      However, Todd Boehly’s January business for attacking talent may not be over just yet.
      Dutch football reporter Rik Elfrink states Madueke is “still waiting” to see where his future lies because the “transfer troubles with Chelsea are not over”.
      The PSV Eindhoven star, 20, remains a target for the Blues – and Elfrink suggested he appeared distracted as he struggled to find his best form in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Fortuna Sittard.
      Madueke spent four years in the Tottenham academy before switching to PSV’s youth set-up.
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      Chelsea made contact with the Eredivisie club last week to enquire about the England Under-21 international.
      PSV – who sold Cody Gakpo to Liverpool this month – told the Blues their winger is not for sale.
      However, the Stamford Bridge club still reportedly tabled an offer worth around £27m.
      Chelsea have already signed striker David Datro Fofana and £35m defender Benoit Badiashile this month.
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      But Graham Potter is a keen admirer of Madueke and was interested in bringing him to the AmEx during his time at Brighton.
      PSV manager Ruud van Nistelrooy is hoping to hold on to Madueke but accepts he could leave this month.
      He said: “I know of the interest in Noni.
      “I’d rather not have that, but it’s not something I decide.
      “The fact that there’s a lot of interest in him is of course due to his quality and his performances. But I do find it worrying.
      “We will certainly do everything we can [to keep him]. But you also know that things can change real quick if the interest heats up.
      “As a club, you’ve got to be ready and have replacements lined up because if he leaves it would mean that we lose another player this winter.
      “But there can also be situations like with Cody [Gakpo], where a certain type of club comes with a certain offer. Then it might be that it’s no longer possible to stop the deal from taking place. I hope that’s not going to be the scenario this time, but I can not exclude it.” More

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      Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk is covered in religious tattoos, almost as fast as Usain Bolt and never goes to nightclubs

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      MYKHAILO MUDRYK has a capital “F” tattooed on the side of his right hand and an “E” on the left.When he brings them together in prayer as a practising Christian, it forms the Portuguese word for “faith”.
      Mykhailo Mudryk signed for Chelsea in deal worth a potential £88millionCredit: Getty
      Mudryk is covered in religious tattoosCredit: Instagram
      He has limited experience in the Champions League, but has been clocked as being almost as fast as Usain BoltCredit: https://www.instagram.com/mmudryk10/
      Mudryk is not one for nightclubs and prefers to stick to sportCredit: https://www.instagram.com/mmudryk10/
      As the subject of an astonishing £88million transfer to Chelsea on the longest contract ever awarded in the Premier League, it seems most appropriate.
      Chelsea are placing a whole lot of faith in a pretty much unknown winger from war-ravaged Ukraine to deliver the goods over eight and a half years.
      Mudryk, 22, will be over 30 when the time comes to exercise his right to a Bosman free transfer in 2031.
      The son of schoolteachers from Krasograd in the Kharkiv region is financially sorted for life come what may.
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      Nice work for a kid with less than 50 Ukrainian league games to his name and limited experience of the Champions League.
      The extraordinary size of the fee readily handed over by Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly and the remarkable length of the contract are the two eye-watering aspects of what would otherwise be a routine signing – the 13th since the American takeover.
      Mudryk will not be alone growing old at Stamford Bridge. New defender Benoit Badiashile has signed for seven and a half years, right back Reece James for six and a half recently.
      A club which for so long thrived on chaos theory and deliberate uncertainty to drag the best out of elite professionals has now turned 180 degrees, and is doing its best to make everyone feel safe and secure until they have grey whiskers.
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      The rationale behind it is no more than high street accountancy. Boehly can splash £88m on Mudryk and spread the fee across the length of the contract.
      That makes it a lot easier to comply with incoming rules on financial sustainability limiting clubs to spending 90, 80 then 70 per cent of revenue on wages, transfers and fees over the next three years.
      But while it won’t break the bank or trigger a mass clearout to balance the books, the policy is not risk-free.
      Mudryk leaves Shakhtar Donetsk an up-and-coming star, with international caps and recognition from Uefa as one of the best young players in the group stage of this year’s Champions League.
      He was officially clocked running 36.6km/h (22.7mph) at one point.
      But no deal is 100 per certain. Boehly only need look back at Chelsea’s previous accounts to look at the money wasted on striker Romelu Lukaku – the closest to a sure thing you could get.
      Prior the move, Lukaku won the Serie A title, scored four goals at Euro 2020 for Belgium and boasted a wealth of Premier League experience.
      But that proved to be £97.5m thrown away on an unmitigated disaster of a move to Stamford Bridge.
      If it can happen to him, it can happen to rookie Mudryk.
      Foreign players are not guaranteed to settle in London. Again, Chelsea burnt their fingers on Spanish striker Alvaro Morata who did not realise it rains a lot over here.
      Managers come and go at clubs. The average lifespan of a Premier League coach is barely two years.
      It is why other Premier League clubs have thought about seemingly endless contracts but haven’t actually gone there. Only teams with the monetary muscle of Chelsea can weigh up the pros and cons and still take the plunge.
      Mudryk impressed in the Champions League for previous club Shakhtar Donetsk
      “Smaller clubs have to be more… choosy”, said one source.
      If faith is at the centre of this shaking up of the transfer system then Mudryk will not fail for the want of believing in himself.
      Yuri Sviridov, head of communications for Shakhtar Donetsk, told SunSport: “Of course it is always a risk when players come to England from other countries. But for Mykhailo, football is his professional and private life.
      “He doesn’t waste his time with girlfriends or nightclubs.
      “I have never seen a player like him, doing so much extra, repetitive drills. He will regularly do more than an hour after training. Even if the coach says he doesn’t want him to.
      “His personal dream is to win the Ballon d’Or. He is quick, two-footed and employs his own personal fitness coach. Here only players who are getting close to retirement do that to get more out of their bodies. Never in one so young.”
      Mudryk is already making his presence felt in England. He has asked for the Shakhtar Donetsk club chef to join him over here to work as his personal nutritionist.
      With an academic family background, his English is of good standard and most of the tattoos which adorn his body are of a religious nature.
      Arsenal and Tottenham were both keenly interested in Mudryk ahead of Chelsea but baulked at the price which naturally inflated as more and more of Europe’s wealthiest teams showed their hands.
      The North London giants gave up in the end and Chelsea have their man, for a long old time.
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      Interestingly, at Shakhtar, Mudryk was kept out of the team by Israeli midfielder Manor Solomon – who cost Fulham just £6m last summer.
      Chelsea fans – pray this move works out. More

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      Arsenal ‘make Declan Rice top summer transfer target’ and are ‘confident’ of beating Man Utd and Chelsea to £80m star

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      DECLAN RICE has been identified as Arsenal’s top summer transfer target, reports suggest. West Ham star Rice is entering the final year of his contract at the London Stadium this summer – although there is an optional extra year – and with their recent struggles, Rice may finally opt to jump ship.
      Declan Rice has been made Arsenal’s number one targetCredit: Alamy
      Rice could be on the move next summer
      A number of top clubs are interested in the 24-year-old, including Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal.
      This summer is set to see a bidding war for the Englishman, which could see him eventually leave for £80million.
      However, according to The Times, Arsenal believe they are in the strong position to sign Rice because they are the Premier League leaders.
      The report indicates the Gunners remain keen on a new midfielder, and consequently have made Rice their priority.
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      Rice fits the mould of player targeted by Mikel Arteta in recent windows.
      He is young, aggressive, and has a burning desire to play in the Champions League – something Arsenal look all but certain to be able to offer next season.
      Arsenal did prioritise signing a new winger this month but saw their efforts to land Mykhailo Mudryk fail after Chelsea threw a colossal package at the Ukrainian.
      The Blues paid £88million for Mudryk, narrowly pipping Arsenal’s own £84m bid, before offering wages worth DOUBLE the Gunners offer.
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      Chelsea have been long-term favourites to sign Rice due to him supporting the club and being best friends with Mason Mount, as well as being a former member of their academy.
      Meanwhile, Man Utd were put off a deal for Rice last summer due to being quoted a price tag of £150m.
      But with this now almost halved, Rice’s decision could depend on who has the best footballing project available.
      The Gunners sit eight points clear at the top of table following their victory in the North London derby – a game where they cruised to victory.
      However, while the likes of Paul Merson believe the title is now “Arsenal’s to throw away”, defeat to United next weekend could throw things wide open. More

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      Newcastle ‘plotting triple transfer swoop on Chelsea for Gallagher, Loftus-Cheek and Ziyech’ to boost top four push

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      NEWCASTLE are hoping to sign THREE Chelsea players this month to improve their top four chances, according to reports.Eddie Howe’s men extended their phenomenal unbeaten league run by beating Fulham 1-0 on Sunday.
      Newcastle are long-term admirers of Conor GallagherCredit: Rex
      Ruben Loftus-Cheek has not played since the defeat at Newcastle in NovemberCredit: Getty
      Hakim Ziyech’s place might be under threat after the signings of Joao Felix and Mykhailo MudrykCredit: Getty
      Alexander Isak marked his first Prem outing since September by bundling home Callum Wilson’s late cross to hand the Toon Army a crucial victory.
      Newcastle sit third in the table, but are crucially FIVE points clear of fifth place Tottenham.
      They’re also on a club-record 14-game run without defeat in the Premier League.
      Regardless, Howe is still hoping to boost his squad, especially with the Magpies also just two games away from reaching the Carabao Cup final.
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      And according to the Telegraph, they’re looking to raid one of their top four rivals Chelsea.
      The report claims they’re interested in signing Conor Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Hakim Ziyech.
      The trio have been unable to nail down a regular place under either Thomas Tuchel or Graham Potter, although Gallagher and Ziyech did start against Crystal Palace.
      Howe’s priority is said to be centre midfielder but he’s also open to bringing in a winger.
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      But the Newcastle boss has been told that whatever he spends in January will come out of his summer budget.
      Meanwhile, the Magpies are also in the race to sign Napoli star Victor Osimhen following his outstanding goalscoring for the Serie A leaders.
      Osimhen has scored 12 league goals in 14 outings this season, including two in the 5-1 mauling of Juventus on Friday.
      And they’re also on transfer alert for Borussia Dortmund man Youssoufa Moukoko. More

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      Chelsea set to continue huge January transfer spending as they ‘target Brighton star Moises Caicedo for £75m’

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      CHELSEA’s January transfer splurge could continue with Graham Potter keen on a reunion with Brighton star Moises Caicedo, according to reports.Now Blues manager Graham Potter signed and coached the 21-year-old on the South Coast.
      Chelsea are keen on Brighton midfielder CaicedoCredit: Rex
      Caicedo has gone from strength to strength since his £4.4million 2021 transfer from Ecuadorian side Independiente.
      The midfielder’s stock has also risen following his performances at the Qatar World Cup late last year.
      Liverpool even registered an interest in the player.
      However, according to CBS Sports, Chelsea could steal a march on their rivals and make a January transfer swoop for Caicedo.
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      Chelsea are willing to pay in excess of £65m to bring Caicedo to Stamford Bridge.
      But Brighton are said to want upwards of £75m to part ways with the player mid-season.
      Chelsea signing Caicedo would be another raid on the Seagulls.
      Marc Cucurella made the move to West London for big money in the summer, and following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel, Potter and his team came shortly after.
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      Caicedo could become Chelsea’s sixth January signing.
      Joao Felix, David Fofana, Andrey Santos, Benoit Badiashile and Mykhailo Mudryk have all joined Potter’s project totalling £152m. More

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      Man Utd transfer blow as Aston Villa confirm £18m agreement reached for Chicago Fire wonderkid Jhon Duran

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      ASTON VILLA have dealt a blow to Manchester United after agreeing a deal to sign Chicago Fire star Jhon Duran.The Red Devils had been interested in signing the winger along with Chelsea and Benfica.
      Aston Villa have confirmed a deal for Jhon DuranCredit: Getty
      However, Villa have pulled off a deal to sign the 19-year-old prospect in a deal worth £18million.
      The Villans confirmed the deal on social media, but did reveal that the player still needs to pass a medical.
      Duran also needs to agree on personal terms with the club as well as obtain the necessary work visa.
      The transfer fee is a record for the MLS club, and they will also receive a percentage of any future transfer fee, Duran’s old Colombian side Envigado will also get a cut of the transfer.
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      The winger would become the third most expensive export from the MLS, after Newcastle’s deal for Miguel Almiron and Bayern Munich’s transfer for Alphonso Davies.
      Duran has played three times for the Colombia national side and is currently in his homeland for the 2023 South America under-20 Championship.
      For Fire, the youngster has excelled as he has scored eight goals and provided three assists in his 28 appearances in all competitions.
      However, it is not yet known if Villa plans to send the player out on loan or bring him into the first team.
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      The MLS side also sold goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina to Chelsea in August.
      The deal for the stopper was £8m, meaning Fire have managed to bring in a total of £26m off the back of the two players. More

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      Inside Mudryk’s £88m deal to join Chelsea including £20.5m to soldiers fighting Russia and friendly in Ukraine

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      THE INCREDIBLE details of Mykhailo Mudryk’s £88million move to Chelsea have been revealed.The Ukrainian winger officially sealed his transfer to Chelsea over the weekend after the Blues usurped their London rivals Arsenal.
      Chelsea officially unveiled Mykhaylo Mudryk as their new signing on SundayCredit: Getty
      Shakhtar Donetsk president Rinat Akhmetov has revealed the full details of the transferCredit: Getty
      He is giving £20.5m of the fee to Ukrainian soldiers to help them fight the invading Russian troopsCredit: Reuters
      Graham Potter’s team will play Shakhtar in a friendly in a ‘Ukrainian Donetsk’ tooCredit: Getty
      The 22-year-old was at Stamford Bridge yesterday in a VIP box to watch his new teammates beat Crystal Palace 1-0.
      Chelsea confirmed the transfer in a statement and Mudryk has signed an incredible eight-and-a-half year deal.

      It is understood Chelsea will pay £62m up front, with up to £26m in performance-related add-ons, taking the potential total to an eye-watering £88m.
      Now Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov has provided full details of the transfer package, revealing the Premier League club have agreed to play them in a friendly in Donetsk as part of the deal.
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      And Akhmetov is also giving £20.5m of the transfer fee to Ukrainian soldiers to help them fight the invading Russian troops in their homeland.
      Akhmetov said: “FC Shakhtar has signed a final agreement with Chelsea FC and thus Ukrainian footballer Mykhaylo Mudryk will continue his career with the Blues in the strongest national championship, the English Premier League.
      “First and foremost, I want to thank the entire civilised world for helping Ukraine.
      “Today we are able to talk about Ukrainian football thanks to the Ukrainian army, the Ukrainian people, and the tremendous support of the entire civilised world. Only by joining efforts we will defeat the evil that has come to our homes.
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      “I have never made it a secret that my dream is to win European trophies. This means that players like Mudryk should be invited to our club, to our Ukrainian championship, and we should win European trophies with such players, rather than root for them, even when they play in the world’s top clubs. 
      “Unfortunately, it is impossible now, as Ukraine is fighting the horrendous and unjust war waged against us by the Russian Federation. But I am confident that we will win.
      “And we will play a friendly against Chelsea at Donbass Arena in a Ukrainian Donetsk.”
      Akhmetov added: “That is why I have made a decision to launch the Heart of Azovstal, a project designed to help Mariupol defenders and the families of fallen soldiers. Their acts of bravery are unparalleled in the modern history. 
      “I am allocating $25 million [£20.5m] today to help our soldiers, defenders, and their families. The money will be used to cover different needs — from providing medical and prosthetic treatment and psychological support to meeting specific requests. 
      “To ensure transparency, the project will have a professional independent team that will be in touch with the Azovstal defenders, their families, care providers, and volunteers.”
      After signing on the dotted line, Mudryk said: “I’m so happy to sign for Chelsea.
      “This is a huge club, in a fantastic league and it is a very attractive project for me at this stage of my career.
      “I’m excited to meet my new team-mates and I’m looking forward to working and learning under Graham Potter and his staff.”
      Mudryk held a Ukrainian flag as he was officially unveiled on the pitch on Sunday – less than a year since Russian Roman Abramovich’s reign in charge ended after his country’s invasion of their neighbours in February 2022.
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      He announced his intention to sell Chelsea, the club he had owned since 2003, the following month following sanctions from the UK government.
      That led to Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital taking over and launching their big-spending spree on new signings.
      Mykhailo Mudryk wore a Ukrainian flag during his official presentation on the pitchCredit: Getty
      His arrival comes less than a year after Roman Abramovich was forced to sell ChelseaCredit: Getty More