Chelsea must invest time in ‘world’s most unique player’ Mudryk, says Shakhtar CEO – Footymercato.com

Mykhailo Mudryk is “the most talented and unique player in the world”, and patient work on the training ground will see Chelsea get the best out of the winger.

That is the view of Serhiy Palkin, Shakhtar Donetsk’s chief executive who struck the £89million deal which took Mudryk from Ukraine to Stamford Bridge last January.

Like many of the big-money recruits of the Todd Boehly era, Mudryk has struggled for consistency since arriving in west London, after emerging as one of Europe’s hottest prospects at Shakhtar.

Between the start of 2021-22 and his move to the Premier League, Mudryk averaged a goal involvement every 70 minutes in the Ukrainian top flight, scoring nine goals and adding 13 assists in just 23 appearances during that spell.

However, Mudryk has just three goals and four assists to his name in 34 Premier League appearances, and he attracted more criticism for an ineffective substitute appearance in Sunday’s EFL Cup final defeat to Liverpool.

Palkin, however, remains convinced of the 23-year-old’s talent and feels he simply needs close attention from Mauricio Pochettino and his backroom staff. 

“I can tell you that for me, Mudryk is the most talented and unique player in the world,” Palkin told Stats Perform.

“I believe that in order to get from Mudryk the maximum, as they anticipate, you need to invest in him. These investments are not money. 

“It’s time for the coaching staff to communicate with him and to work closely with him. He is a young boy, he changed from the Ukrainian Championship to the Premier League. 

“It’s a completely different world, with completely different levels, completely different football. 

“Therefore, I believe that if the coaching staff dedicates him some time, he will return three, four, or five times more.”

One former Shakhtar man who made a far more immediate impact in the Premier League is Roberto De Zerbi, who led Brighton and Hove Albion to Europa League qualification last term while implementing a daring style of play. 

The Seagulls are in the hunt for European qualification again this season, and they rank second in the Premier League for average passes per sequence (5.01), third for build-up attacks (127) and joint-first for high turnovers resulting in goals (seven).

After overseeing Brighton’s dramatic rise, De Zerbi has been tipped to move on to pastures new, with both Barcelona and Liverpool suggested as possible landing spots for the Italian.

Palkin has no doubt De Zerbi is destined for the top, saying: “I can tell you that he did a lot for Brighton, he did brilliant work for Brighton. 

“I believe 100 per cent that he can jump into a top club tomorrow, even today, 100 per cent. The most important thing is he must accept the proposition.

“I believe he has a lot of propositions, including in Italian football and English football. Therefore, everything, everything, everything depends on him.”