Shakhtar Donetsk’s CEO, Sergiy Palkin, has offered guidance to Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino on optimising Mykhailo Mudryk’s potential.
Palkin, having closely observed the Ukrainian youngster, maintains confidence in Mudryk’s exceptional abilities and suggests personalised attention from Pochettino could enhance his performance.
He emphasises the importance of one-on-one interactions between the coach and Mudryk to unlock the winger’s full potential.
Speaking to beIN Sports, Palkin said: “I can tell you that, for me, Mudryk is the most talented and unique player in the world. I believe that in order to get the maximum from Mudryk, as they anticipate, you need to invest in him. And these investments are not money. The investment is time with the coaching staff to communicate with him and work closely with him.
“He is a young boy and he changed from the Ukrainian Championship to the English Premier League. It’s a completely different world, with completely different levels, with football that’s completely different. I believe that if the coaching staff dedicates some time to him, he will return three, four or five times more.”
Since his transfer from Ukraine to England in January 2023 for a staggering £89 million ($109 million), the 23-year-old has struggled to replicate the impressive form he displayed while playing for Shakhtar.
During his time at Shakhtar, he scored 12 goals and provided 17 assists in 44 appearances.
However, in his initial six months with the West London club, Mudryk failed to find the back of the net. Even in the 2023–24 season, he has only managed to score three times in 19 Premier League matches.
Despite his underwhelming performance, the Ukrainian international was the subject of interest from Bayern Munich during the January transfer window.
However, Chelsea opted to block the move at that time. Recent reports now suggest that Arsenal, who lost out to Chelsea in the battle to sign him last year, have reignited their interest in the player.