EPL: Why Chelsea signed Mudryk ahead of Arsenal – Shakhtar Donetsk make revelations

Shakhtar Donetsk CEO, Sergei Palkin, has slammed Arsenal’s negotiating tactics for Mykhailo Mudryk and revealed how Chelsea managed to hijack the transfer.

The 22-year-old winger was on the Gunners’ radar since the summer and they had been in talks over a deal for months.

But Chelsea hijacked the deal last weekend and Mudryk has now signed an eight-and-a-half year deal at Stamford Bridge.

Palkin has now confirmed both clubs offered the same overall fee, but the add-ons in Arsenal’s were not realistic.

Speaking to The Athletic, he said: “Yes, we can talk about bonuses, but these bonuses should be somehow achievable and realistic, let’s say. Therefore, in this case, Chelsea was much more serious and fair in some points.

“When they proposed the final offer of €70million plus €30million (in add-ons), we sat down and started to talk internally about how it will be fulfilled in terms of the payments, the fixed part and the bonus issues.

“We realised we will not close this deal (with Arsenal). I said to Edu that I did my best but it was not possible.”

Mudryk is in line to make his Chelsea debut this Saturday, when they travel to Liverpool in the Premier League.