Mykhailo Mudryk has encouraged Chelsea to sign Ukraine Under-21 teammate Georgiy Sudakov. The 20-year-old striker has been linked with a move to the likes of Barcelona and Manchester City following his impressive performances for club and country.
The duo led Ukraine to a shock 3-1 win over France in the European Championship quarter-final. Rayan Cherki had given Les Bleu the lead, but Sudakov equalised just moments later after Mudryk was brought down inside the box.
Then, just before half-time, the Chelsea winger provided a fantastic assist for his former Shakhtar Donetsk teammate. Mudryk carved the French backline in half before Sudakov rounded the goalkeeper to score his second of the game.
In the dying embers of the tie, Artem Bondarenko netted Ukraine's third. Sudakov is now the tournament’s top scorer with three goals in four games and, with Mauricio Pochettino said to still be in the market for a new striker this summer, Mudryk has urged his boss to take a look at his teammate.
Speaking about his assist to the Shakhtar star after booking a place in the semi-final against Spain, the Blues ace said: "Usually it’s the opposite – he gives it to me and I score.
"And now he scored a penalty, and I thought – I need to score more. I do everything for my friend, I hope he just keeps scoring. I’m just promoting him!"
Then, when asked if he would like to see Sudakov at Chelsea, Mudryk replied: "That would be great."
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If Chelsea choose to heed the advice of Mudryk then they'll have to act quickly. Earlier this year, Shakhtar Donetsk youth coach Fernando Valente paid homage to Sudakov, who – like many others in Ukraine – as been sadly impacted by Russia's invasion.
"Sudakov was the most talented player I ever coached," Valente wrote, as quoted by Goal. "A Ukrainian international, who recently renewed his contract with Shakhtar until 2026; a wonderful human being with a little girl on the way with his wife Lisa…
"They had dreams to fulfil, dreams that have been snatched away by a bunker for a senseless war. I pray for this couple and the for all the young players and friends that I made in Ukraine and who made me happy for the two years I was there. My heart is broken."
Then, in an interview with Portuguese agency Agnecia Lusa, Valente suggested that Sudakov could be playing for Barcelona or City had it not been for the 'senseless war'. As quoted by Goal, he added: "Sudakov is a lad with enormous potential, he could even play for Barcelona or Manchester City. He was the best player I coached and we have a strong relationship."
