Mykhailo Mudryk guarantees Chelsea will pose a real threat in forward areas, according to Shaun Wright-Phillips.
The 22-year-old is in contention to make his debut this weekend against Liverpool at Anfield, after his was unveiled as a Chelsea player at Stamford Bridge last weekend.
Despite being Arsenal’s top target for the January window, and being keen on the move to the Emirates himself, Chelsea acted swiftly to seal an £89m agreement with Shakhtar Donetsk and bring Mudryk to west London.
The Blues desperately need him to quickly settle into life in England, with Graham Potter’s side sitting 10th in the Premier League table having scored just 22 goals in 19 matches.
Former Chelsea winger Wright-Phillips is in doubt about what Mudryk will bring to the side.
“I’ve seen him in the Champions League,” he told Best of Bets. “I think he’s something that Chelsea have needed.
“If you go back to the days of [Arjen] Robben, [Damien] Duff, partly myself, Joe Cole – Chelsea could play direct with those wingers. They would get the ball down and take people on.
“There’s a guarantee that Mudryk will do that, he will get at defenders and get to the byline and put a ball in, or get shots off.”
Mudryk is one of five signings made by Chelsea so far in the January transfer window, as they continue their big spending under Todd Boehly.
Joao Felix has been brought in on loan from Atletico Madrid, but is currently serving a three-match suspension after he was sent off on his debut against Fulham.
The 23-year-old impressed while he was on the pitch though, making an immediate impact in a Chelsea shirt.
“When Joao Felix started against Fulham, I thought he brought something to that team that we hadn’t seen in a long while, going past people and trying to create chances,” Wright-Phillips said.
“He was a catalyst in that first half against Fulham – Chelsea had 18 shots in the first half, which I don’t think they’ve had in a full season or longer. That’s the part of Chelsea I’ve thought was missing.
“You can only defend for so long, you have to give something at the top end.”
