Tottenham Hotspur will surely be in the market for another attacking midfield player as James Maddison continues to search for his form.
Maddison started the season in exceptional form and it looked like Tottenham had found the attacking midfielder which had been needed for so, so long.
However, an injury suffered in November against tonight’s opponents Chelsea left Maddison on the treatment table.
It’s fair to say that Maddison hasn’t quite been able to rediscover that early-season magic just yet.
Maddison’s form is now a real concern and there isn’t tons of competition around him.
Giovani Lo Celso could come in but he hasn’t exactly been a regular first-team performer this season.
Dejan Kulusevski could even move inside to play as a number 10 but we will surely see Tottenham consider adding another playmaker this summer.
Tottenham keen on Heorhiy Sudakov
One rumour certainly points towards Tottenham adding another attacking midfielder.
Reports in April suggested that Tottenham were ‘seriously’ weighing up a move to sign Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Heorhiy Sudakov.
Those rumours were only strengthened when it emerged that Sudakov’s agent Vadim Shablii was at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as a guest last week.
Sudakov has a release clause of around £128million in his Shakhtar contract but a deal isn’t expected to cost anywhere near that figure.
A deal of around £60million would be required for Sudakov, but even that seems like a hefty price for Tottenham to pay.
Only twice have Tottenham broken the £50million mark for a signing; Tanguy Ndombele in 2019 and Richarlison in 2022.
Those deals haven’t really returned value for money and it’s difficult to imagine Spurs paying that kind of money for a player who has only played in Ukraine’s top flight.
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Europe move ‘too early’ for Sudakov
Former Ukraine international Viktor Leonenko has now told Sport Express in Ukraine that a move to Europe this summer would be ‘too early’ for Sudakov.
Leonenko doesn’t even feel that Sudakov has been playing all that well for Shakhtar of late, urging him to improve his displays and produce more assists.
Sudakov has bags of talent but has only recorded six assists in all competitions this season, alongside eight goals.
Leonenko also thinks that Mykhailo Mudryk’s move to Chelsea and subsequent lack of impact may put the microscope on Shakhtar players.
There will be question marks over whether players like Sudakov will be ready for Premier League action given Mudryk’s struggles.
Leonenko seemingly feels that 21-year-old Sudakov is better off staying in Ukraine and learning his craft before potentially making a move.
“In my opinion, it is still too early for him to go to Europe,” said Leonenko. “Shakhtar wants to earn a lot of money, but look at Sudakov’s recent results – he needs to increase his performance, give more assists. Plus, after Mudryk’s transfer to Chelsea, Shakhtar players will now be looked at more carefully,” he added.
Mudryk’s Chelsea career will certainly leave some clubs scared of the Ukrainian market.
The winger looked like an absolute menace for Shakhtar but has struggled to make any sort of impact in more than a year at Chelsea.
Mudryk cost a huge fee, even more than the deal Shakhtar want for Sudakov, and clubs will have to think long and hard about whether he is really ready for such a move.
We can see Spurs going in another direction this summer, with the cheaper Sebastian Szymanski of Fenerbahce another reported target.
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