UEFA and Premier League told to examine 'bizarre' Tottenham signing overvalued by '£60m'
The £89million deal that took Mykhailo Mudryk to Chelsea in 2023 should have been looked into more closely by UEFA and the Premier League.
That is the opinion of former senior Tottenham scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
The 25-year-old has joined the Lilywhites on loan for the season as he looks to play senior football for the first time in almost two years.
Mudryk was suspended from football in November 2024 after testing positive for a banned substance, and has only recently been given permission to return to action.
The Ukraine international showed promise before his suspension but will now face a demanding return to Premier League football.
Tottenham hold a £75m option to buy in Mudryk's loan move, and will hope he does enough to warrant a significant investment.
Mykhailo Mudryk has 'done absolutely nothing'
It had actually been Arsenal chasing Mudryk in January 2023, and they had had several bids rejected.
The winger had scored 10 goals and provided nine assists in 19 games for Shakhtar Donetsk and was in demand after starring in the Champions League.
Chelsea saw an opportunity and blew Arsenal's bids out of the water, landing Mudryk for an initial £62m with potentially £27m in add-ons.
The Gunners pivoted to Brighton's Leandro Trossard, signing him in a £27m package that has aged far more handsomely than what had been their first choice.
"Absolutely bizarre. I've never fancied him. I'm always worried about these players coming from this part of the world with so many tattoos, and since he's been in England, he's done absolutely nothing," King told Football Insider.
"He cost a ridiculous amount of money for a player that's not worth a third of that. However that deal was set up and done, UEFA, Premier League should have been looking into that.
"He then goes and gets himself banned for a considerable amount of time. Now, [Roberto] De Zerbi has decided that he can sort him out. Well, good luck with that.
"Although the boy's got pace, he has decent runs with the ball. But I'm sorry, I wouldn't have him in the football club."
Why did Chelsea sign Mudryk?
On paper, Chelsea's deal for Mudryk seems more odd every time you look at it.
To pay such a huge fee for such an unproven player is not unheard of, but the winger was 22 and had only just broken through for Shakhtar Donetsk.
Theories have circulated throughout the years since, but the answer is likely a lot more simple than it seems.
BlueCo had only been in charge of Chelsea for six months and considering Arsenal's huge interest, saw a chance to gazump a big London rival.
Mudryk was fast and surely still has much potential, but the deal cannot be considered anything but a disastrous piece of business.