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Football London
Football London
Sport
Adam Newson

Todd Boehly must avoid Mykhaylo Mudryk transfer mistake as Chelsea face Enzo Fernandez reality

mchew4: Do you have an idea of how long Mykhailo Mudryk has been a Chelsea target? The interest feels like a case of “poaching” Arsenal’s target so they don’t get him, though with potential injuries I can see the necessity for a winger.

Adam says: "I can't put a hard date on when the interest started, but what I do know is the new ownership have a clear plan to target high-potential players under the age of 23. Mudryk is clearly that so it's only natural he is someone they have kept tabs on, even if they haven't gone as far down the road as Arsenal in negotiating with Shakhtar.

"Arsenal are leading the race and Mudryk hasn't kept his desire to switch to the Emirates a secret. Chelsea, I'm sure, can offer a great financial package but I think there is a lesson to be learned from the summer with Raphinha: if a player has his heart set on a move elsewhere, it's best to pull back and focus on another target."

READ MORE Chelsea complete Andrey Santos deal as Todd Boehly continues transfer plan

jaafar: When do you think a sporting director will be appointed and is Michael Edwards the most likely candidate?

Adam says: "Chelsea's new ownership did hold talks with Michael Edwards about joining the football structure they are building in the summer. While he was understood to have been impressed, he stood firm on his plan to spend a year with his family after leaving Liverpool.

"It's since been reported by Sky that a 'CEO of Football' role was pitched to Edwards by Chelsea. That isn't one that has been filled by anyone else, so it is something that could be looked at again in the future."

chelsfinest: What will happen with Enzo Fernandez. Can we get him this window or the next?

Adam says: "I wouldn't want to make a hard prediction on whether Enzo Fernandez arrives, especially in this window. The strength of the – notably very public – criticism from Benfica head coach Roger Schmidt highlights the anger within the Portuguese club as to how negotiations have been handled thus far. I suspect there will be further talks but Chelsea are going to have to get close to the terms demanded by Benfica to make the deal happen."

Tashmid: Is it harsh to say Chelsea will sign cheaper alternatives to the big names linked? For example, there was interest in Josko Gvardiol but now we've got Benoit Badiashille. And after the Enzo fiasco, I think a realistic defensive midfielder we can have is Denis Zakaria.

Adam says: "It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking a cheaper player is a less-gifted player. Ultimately, clubs decide transfer fees and there are a multitude of reasons why one player will cost significantly more than another.

"Badiashile is talented, there's no doubt about that. Zakaria has shown his quality in the last week too. And let's not forget, Chelsea don't have the greatest record when spending big money on signings!"

jondc91: Do you have any more information about Arsen Zakharyan? Can you clarify what the issue is about the transfer from Russian clubs?

Adam says: "That's certainly a complicated one to answer. From what I understand – and there may be further complexities – one of the biggest stumbling blocks is the British sanctions on the economy in Russia. Paying a multi-million fee for Zakharyan to Dynamo Moscow is problematic as the money would be going back into a country whose leader is waging war.

"Another issue is whether Zakharyan would be granted a work permit by the home office, and that's before you get into the FIFA and UEFA restrictions on signing Russian players. Chelsea remain interested but there are a lot of hoops to jump through and potential pitfalls to navigate."

Tashmid: Can we say that Enzo Fernandez will now say no to Chelsea when and if they bid again?

"My gut feeling – and this isn't based on any hard information as yet – is Enzo would still be open to moving to Chelsea. The money on offer can't be overlooked; it would ensure he becomes a multi-millionaire irrespective of how his career plays out. That financial security is hugely important.

"There is, however, much work for Chelsea to do in terms of reaching an agreement with Benfica. That is the biggest hurdle."

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