Mykhailo Mudryk joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in January (Picture: Getty Images)
Chelsea swooped to sign Mykhailo Mudryk in the January transfer window after Arsenal were long linked with the Ukrainian, but William Gallas reckons the winger could regret ending up in west rather than north London.
With the Gunners making bids for Mudryk and the 22-year-old posting clear hints that he fancied the moves on Instagram, it looked certain that the deal would be done.
However, the Blues hijacked the transfer, snapping up the talented forward for an initial £62m, which could rise to £89m.
While Chelsea won that battle, they are having a significantly worse season than their London rivals, with Arsenal sitting top of the Premier League table while the Blues are struggling down in ninth.
Gallas thinks there is such a clear difference between the sides at the moment that Mudryk could live to regret the move to Stamford Bridge in the months to come.
Mudryk may have made a mistake, he had the opportunity to play for Arsenal,’
‘Gallas told Genting Casino. The way Arsenal play, he would have fit into that squad and at the end of the season, he may regret it. What if Chelsea do not qualify for the Champions League?
‘Arsenal may be the champions in the end. At the end of the season, maybe he will regret it. It could have been an opportunity for him to play well and in the Champions League next season.
‘However, Arsenal will have to move on, and now they will have the chance to bring in new players so that they can play with the players they want.’
Mudryk may end up being disappointed, but the decision was not entirely his, with Shakhtar chief executive Sergei Palkin explaining that Arsenal’s offer did not make as much sense as Chelsea’s, which is why it was not accepted.
Speaking to The Athletic, he explained: ‘Overall, it was the same. Not approximately the same – it was the same figure.
‘The fixed part, variable part, bonuses. But if you look inside the fixed part and bonuses, it was completely different.
‘Different time (schedule) of the payments, different kinds of bonuses. 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.’
MORE : Chelsea sign Southampton teenager Jimmy-Jay Morgan in £3m deal
MORE : Joe Cole names Chelsea’s most exciting new signing after £320m January spending spree
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
‘Mudryk may have made a mistake.’
