Mykhailo Mudryk’s agent has been speaking amid the winger’s struggle to convince Enzo Maresca.

Mykhailo Mudryk’s agent has been speaking amid the Ukrainian’s battle to convince Enzo Maresca he is worthy of being a Chelsea starter. It has been a difficult journey for Mudryk since his arrival on a deal worth up to £90million in 2023.

Mudryk has struggled to convince since his arrival, struggling with inconsistency, although he has improved since the arrival of Maresca, who places plenty of emphasis on wing play. The Italian coach has been critical of Mudryk at times, but he has also promised to be patient.

“I’m very happy, not for me but for him,” Maresca said back in October. “We as a staff, we spend a long, long time to help the players; not only Misha but the whole squad. Since we started, we are working with Misha and all the wingers to arrive in the box, into the position where Misha scored.

“He struggled to arrive there and now he is starting to arrive there. That is where we are going to score goals. It’s for him, it’s for Jadon [Sancho], it’s for Noni [Madueke], it’s for Pedro [Neto] - all of the wingers. They need to be in position because the ball is going to arrive in that position.”

Mudryk is still developing, and he certainly hasn’t thrown his toys out of the pram despite criticism and a difficult adjustment period. In the meantime, the winger’s agent, Vadim Shabliy, has weighed in on his situation.

“I am glad that Mykhailo has become our client,” Shabliy told The Standard. “He is a unique player with great talent and ambition. It’s vital for him to enjoy the game; it’s vital to feel that he is trusted. I am absolutely convinced he will show all his best football qualities.

“Of course, players like Misha will always attract the attention of other clubs and their scouts. He is one of those football players who, thanks to his playing qualities, can influence the outcome of a match. He feels the game, knows how to take responsibility, and makes quick decisions. But at the moment he has a contract with Chelsea, and all his thoughts are about how to secure his place in the starting XI.”

Ukraine’s next big thing

Shakhtar Donetsk star Georgiy Sudakov is currently the player catching the eye in Ukraine, and Shabily, who also represents the playmaker, is backing him for a future move. “Georgiy is a player with a great future,” he added. “He, like most footballers, wants to try his hand at the top championships.

“It is absolutely normal when a player wants to grow professionally. Previously, Serie A giants and others were interested in him. Now, teams from the Premier League are actively showing interest in him. I am sure that when we are all ready to move on, Georgiy will move to a top club. You know, from experience, I can say that in life everything happens on time - we, Shakhtar and the player are open to offers. And that means there is a high probability that we will soon be able to see Georgiy in the top leagues.”