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Tottenham Hotspur enquires about loan deal for Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk
Spurs view the Ukrainian winger as a backup option if their pursuit of Liverpool's Cody Gakpo falls through, adding another twist to Mudryk's complicated Chelsea career.
Tottenham Hotspur have made an enquiry about taking Mykhailo Mudryk on loan from Chelsea, positioning the Ukrainian winger as a contingency plan if their primary target, Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo, proves unattainable.
The Mudryk situation, explained
Mudryk hasn’t kicked a competitive ball since November 2024. The reason is as dramatic as it gets in football: a positive test for meldonium led to a four-year FA ban. That ban was subsequently resolved, clearing Mudryk to return to competition on July 31, 2026.
Across 73 appearances for Chelsea since his January 2023 arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk, Mudryk managed 10 goals and 11 assists. His initial transfer fee sat between £61m and £88m, depending on which add-ons eventually trigger. He remains under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2031.
Chelsea’s preference is clear: find Mudryk a loan destination where he’s guaranteed regular minutes. That stipulation reportedly contributed to Chelsea rejecting an initial loan offer from Leeds United.
Why Tottenham makes sense, and why it might not
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has history with Mudryk from their overlapping time at Shakhtar Donetsk. De Zerbi managed the Ukrainian club between 2021 and 2022, a period during which Mudryk emerged as one of European football’s most exciting young wingers.
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Tottenham have made it known that Mudryk is the Plan B. Plan A is Cody Gakpo from Liverpool.
Chelsea’s loan discussions have not included a purchase option in recent negotiations with interested clubs.
A crowded field of suitors
Chelsea have fielded interest from across England and beyond. Leeds United and Brentford have both been involved in discussions. Napoli, Atalanta, and Roma are all reportedly in the mix. Even Coventry City, currently in England’s second tier, have expressed interest.
The September 1, 2026, transfer deadline provides a hard cutoff for these negotiations. Mudryk only became eligible to play again on July 31, giving him roughly a month to sort out where he’ll spend the season.
What to watch
The Gakpo domino is the one to monitor. If Tottenham successfully pry the Dutch forward from Liverpool, their interest in Mudryk likely evaporates.