In a shock turn of events, Chelsea are now expected to announce the signing of Mykhaylo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk after talks between the clubs on Saturday. The Ukrainian side themselves have confirmed the talks whilst Chelsea dropped a series of hints on social media before later confirming on their official website that they are 'close to agreeing' a deal to sign him.
Having been the centre of attention from Arsenal throughout the summer and furthermore leading into this month, a deal to land Mudryk is a serious coup for Chelsea, given his impressive performances for Shakhtar in the Champions League. This season he already has 10 goals and eight assists in all competitions.
He is set to join a raft of new signings at Stamford Bridge with Andrey Santos, Benoit Badiashile, Joao Felix and David Datro Fofana already confirmed. When it comes to big name announcements there is also plenty of interest in the commercial activity too.
READ MORE: Everything Mykhaylo Mudryk has said about Arsenal as Chelsea 'agree' transfer with £88m 'hijack'
On this front Chelsea now have a big choice to make over which shirt number to hand him. Felix took over the famous No. 11 top formerly worn by Didier Drogba but most recently Timo Werner. That is the most obvious attacking number left at the club though and won't be available until the summer at least when Felix's loan ends.
Badiashile took No. 4, whereas Fofana is the new No. 27. In his relatively brief senior career Mudryk has worn the No. 10 for his club but has also sported No. 20 and No. 91. The No. 20 shirt is currently in the possession of another loanee, Denis Zakaria. Once more, if he isn't signed on a permanent deal at the end of the summer then it could be opened out for the potential new man to wear.
For Ukraine Mudryk has also worn No. 10 but on occasion No. 14, No. 20 and No. 24. There aren't a raft of so-called desirable numbers left to Mudryk to pick but come the summer they may well open up, with Christian Pulisic, Kai Havertz, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Hakim Ziyech all in with a chance of leaving Stamford Bridge, their numbers would be available (10, 29, 9 and 22, respectively.)
Squad numbers currently available to Mykhaylo Mudryk: 2, 3, 15, 25, 31.
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