Tottenham Hotspur are ready to pounce on a potential market opportunity at Stamford Bridge as the September 1 deadline edges ever closer.
Since the Clearlake Capital-Todd Boehly ownership took control of Chelsea in 2022, they have made no secret of their willingness to do a deal if the price is right and it is in the best interests of the club.
In recent weeks, Chelsea have made Mykhailo Mudryk available for a loan move after his appeal against a four-year doping ban was partially upheld, and the ban was lifted on July 31. The 25-year-old had been serving the suspension since December 2024.
Mudryk was suspended in December 2024 following an adverse finding in a routine urine test, which later revealed the presence of a low concentration of meldonium, a banned substance. The winger played 22 minutes across three pre-season matches before being left out of the matchday squad for the final pre-season friendly against Real Sociedad.
The Ukrainian international now looks set to reunite with former boss Roberto De Zerbi, after Tottenham accelerated their efforts to sign the winger on loan.
De Zerbi's presence could prove crucial for Mudryk, with the Italian coach having already worked with the winger during his time at Shakhtar Donetsk. A move to Tottenham would therefore allow Mudryk to work under a manager familiar with his strengths and help him rediscover his best form.
After giving 'total priority' to Spurs and informing Chelsea that he wanted to move to north London for the season, David Ornstein has confirmed that a deal has now been agreed.
Even before his suspension, Mudryk struggled to find consistency and momentum during his time at Stamford Bridge. In 73 appearances for the Blues, he has managed just 10 goals in all competitions, with the majority of those appearances coming from the bench since joining in January 2023 for an initial £62 million, with a further £26.5m in add-ons.
No replacement is expected at Stamford Bridge, with the likes of Morgan Rogers, Jamie Gittens and Geovany Quenda ahead of him in the pecking order. With no European football, it would be difficult for Mudryk to break through and earn regular, much-needed minutes, which is why a loan move could make sense for both parties, particularly given his relationship with De Zerbi.
Tensions between Chelsea and Tottenham have relaxed in recent years. Just last year, Matt Law reported that 'bridges have been built in the relationship between Chelsea and Spurs'. With both Mudryk and Tosin Adarabioyo set to make the move across London, it appears that the relationship is firmly back in place.
Mudryk's potential move has had wider implications. The Athletic has confirmed that a permanent deal for Tosin Adarabioyo has been agreed, which Fabrizio Romano reported was an ultimatum from Spurs: if they signed Mudryk, they'd complete the double deal.
Tosin has also agreed personal terms and been given permission to undergo a medical.