All eyes are on how well Mykhailo Mudryk performs at Tottenham under Roberto de Zerbi this season.
Tottenham fans were taken aback after the club announced the signing of Mykhailo Mudryk from Chelsea on deadline day. The Ukraine international arrives at N17 on a season-long loan, with the Lilywhites having a £75m buy-option that could be triggered if he manages to impress Roberto de Zerbi in the coming months. Going all-in to land the 25-year-old was never the plan for the North Londoners until the end of the transfer window, with Mudryk ultimately becoming the last player to arrive through the doors at Hotspur Way.
Spurs were on the verge of securing a deal to land Iliman Ndiaye from Everton during the latter stages of the transfer window. Both clubs had agreed terms for the player, while the Senegal international also remained keen on taking the next step in his career after rejecting a move to Saudi Arabia to stay in the Premier League. However, delays in negotiations meant that the Lilywhites missed out on Ndiaye, with Manchester City hijacking the deal at the eleventh hour.
Missing out on Ndiaye prompted Spurs to move quickly and land Mykhailo Mudryk from Chelsea instead. The Ukraine international returned to first-team football during pre-season following his 20-month suspension. Mudryk was charged with testing positive for Meldonium, a substance that could increase stamina and respiratory capacity. Following his suspension, the talented winger returned to first-team action with the Blues, only for Xabi Alonso to inform him that he needed to move elsewhere to gain match fitness and confidence this season.
Mykhailo Mudryk told what he needs to do at Tottenham this season
Tottenham fans are not expecting a lot from Mykhailo Mudryk this season. A small ten-minute cameo against Nottingham Forest last weekend was the talented winger’s first taste of competitive football in over 600 days. And it is fair to say that the Ukraine international looked rusty, making next to no impact for the Lilywhites during the latter stages of the game. However, if there is one person who knows how to get the best out of the 25-year-old this season, it is Roberto de Zerbi.
Bryan King has now revealed what Mykhailo Mudryk needs to do during his time at N17 to force Spurs to trigger his £75m buy-option next summer. Speaking on the Football Insider podcast, King said,
“Good luck with that. I mean, £75m? He hasn’t played football for two years, has he? Well, I wouldn’t put it past Tottenham to waste £75m again. Because they’ve been wasting money all the last three years. They’ve been bringing in players with big names, and obviously, it looks as though the management or the coaching staff can’t handle these big-name players.”
The former Spurs scout added,
“They certainly ain’t getting the performance from them. Mudryk, never fancied him at all. As I say, good luck with that loan signing. And I’ll tell you what, he’s got to put in some performances if they’re going to pay £75m for him. He’s got to win them the Premier League. He’s certainly got to score 25 goals.”
Could Mykhailo Mudryk get back to his best under Roberto de Zerbi?
There is no real pressure on Mykhailo Mudryk to perform well at Spurs, as fans have little expectation of the talented winger. The Ukraine international needs to regain his match fitness quickly, and Roberto de Zerbi might need to play a big role in helping the player gain confidence on the pitch. The 25-year-old is keen to perform well under the Italian tactician, even calling the Spurs boss his ‘football father’ in a recent interview.
However, it is tough to agree with Bryan King’s statement. Scoring 25 goals and helping Spurs win the Premier League is not something that fans are expecting from Mykhailo Mudryk this season. All they want to see is a player who puts in the required effort and gives his all to help the North Londoners finish in the top half of the Premier League table. For Mudryk, the aim should be to make a regular impact in the final third, even if it results in no goals or assists in some matches.
