Chelsea will want to be patient with Mykhailo Mudryk after spending so much money on the winger.
They signed Mykhailo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk last January in a deal worth £89m in total, making him one of the most expensive acquisitions in Chelsea‘s history.
However, if the club want to get back to the top again, they cannot wait around forever.
Mudryk needs to start delivering at some point, but is the Ukrainian already out of time? Perhaps, and while that may seem unfair given that he has not been at Chelsea for too long, if there is a chance to replace him with one player who they are currently being linked with, then it has to be considered.
Mykhailo Mudryk’s time at Chelsea so far
Mudryk’s move to Chelsea has obviously not worked out so far.
In his first season at the club, the Blues finished 12th in the Premier League table, while he was unable to score a single goal.
The 23-year-old has done much better this term, netting six times. However, for someone who could end up costing almost £90m, you would have expected way more.
The fair thing to do is give Mudryk more time to adapt and settle, though he has had almost a season and a half now.
Chelsea should consider replacing Mykhailo Mudryk with Rafael Leao
At this stage, if Chelsea really want to return to the top four, then they may need to be ruthless and consider upgrading on Mudryk.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, AC Milan’s Rafael Leao is a player who the Blues are currently interested in. He would be a great replacement for Mudryk if the club want to head in a new direction.
Leao is a forward who can destroy defenders but also has end product to his game.
Over the last year, he has ranked in the 89th percentile for progressive carries and the 88th for successful take-ons (FBref).
His numbers have not been incredible this season, but in the previous Serie A campaign, the 24-year-old scored 15 goals and provided eight assists.
Leao is an option that cannot be overlooked, even with Chelsea possessing Mudryk, who may have to be sacrificed if the club land the Portugal international.