With Manchester United looking as reliant as ever on the mercurial talents of Bruno Fernandes when it comes to creativity and cutting edge in the final third, hearing one of the club’s reported summer targets likening himself to two of the finest attacking midfielders in the Premier League may be music to the ears.
Speaking to The Telegraph earlier this year, the coveted playmaker likened his style to that of Tottenham Hotspur’s James Maddison and Man City talisman Phil Foden.
So whoever signs him, be it Manchester United or one of his numerous other admirers from England to Italy and everywhere in between, opposition defenders will not be able to relax even for a second when Georgiy Sudakov picks up possession between the lines.
The Shakhtar Donetsk talisman will not come cheap, however. While his eventual transfer fee might not reach the £88 million package Chelsea shelled out to bring Mykhaylo Mudryk to Stamford Bridge, Shakhtar CEO Sergey Palkin insists that the Ukrainian giants will now be looking for a damn sight more than the £35 million Napoli offered in January.
Manchester United face big Georgiy Sudakov battle
“This summer window, he has a big chance to move to some big clubs,” Palkin tells The Evening Standard. “We have had some contacts with big clubs. Some are not negotiating with us directly, but are getting a feel for the summer environment.
“He will definitely move to a top European club this summer. When I was at Chelsea versus Everton on Monday (Mauricio Pochettino’s Cole Palmer-inspired side winning 6-0), many people asked me about Sudakov.”
The Standard believes that Shakhtar want around £60 million for their 21-year-old dynamo.
Sudakov, who can also play on the left and in a deeper role, ticks a few boxes for a new United ownership group prioritising potential over big reputations and big names, especially with Christian Eriksen’s likely departure opening up a spot for a midfielder of Sudakov’s ilk.
CEO admits Chelsea and Napoli interest
“I told Napoli in January they could have him for 50 million euros plus bonuses, and they offered 40 million,” Palkin adds. “But I said to them; ‘Close the deal now, or lose this unique chance’.
“Now, it will not be 50 million euros. They would have no chance to (sign Sudakov for that fee) now because we have many more clubs looking. The most interest will come from English clubs. For me, he will become one of the best midfielders in Europe and the world.
“We don’t want clubs to seek discounts because we are at war (with Russia). An example was for Mudryk. We are quite strong (financially).”
Sudakov, HITC understands, is on the radar of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, as well as Newcastle, West Ham United and Aston Villa.
The midfielder, also under consideration by Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, has already confirmed the interest of Juventus as well as Napoli.
Sudakov believes that Shakhtar will let him go this summer, too, having been promised by Palkin that acceptable offers will be considered.
“I was a little upset at the beginning (when Shakhtar denied me a move to Italy). But then I understood the club,” Sudakov tells Corriere dello Sport. “The club want to get as much money as possible from my sale.
“Palkin has said I can go to Europe in six months or a year. And trust him and the President.”