Liverpool line up £50m January swoop for 'quality' Chelsea star in lifeline transfer

Chelsea are reported to be looking to sell winger Mykhailo Mudryk and Liverpool could be interested in bringing the Ukraine international to Merseyside to end his underwhelming stay at Stamford Bridge.

Fichajes reports that Liverpool are actively preparing for the exit of Mohamed Salah and have drawn up a shortlist of wingers who could fulfil that role under Arne Slot. Mudryk is said to be one of those candidates, despite his struggle for Premier League form in London.

The report adds that Liverpool would be willing to pay between €35 and €50 million for the player, which is equivalent to £30 to £40 million. Chelsea forked out £62 million to sign the player from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023.

Mudryk put pent to paper on a lengthy eight-and-a-half-year contract at the time but has just seven goals and six assists to his name in 64 Chelsea appearances. Earlier this month, Football Insider reported that Chelsea were ready to sell the player after just over a year and a half with it 'difficult' to see the winger turning things around under Enzo Maresca.

Speaking about Mudryk recently, the Chelsea manager said: “I don’t think it’s a lack of confidence. Misha is Misha. You have to accept the way he is. Hopefully, he can get minutes and do better.”

The forward has made just two Premier League cameos from the bench so far this season as he struggles for game time under Maresca. Despite falling out of favour recently, Mudryk had previously been praised for his 'attitude' and 'quality' by former Chelsea manager Graham Potter, who signed him for the club.

Mauricio Pochettino had also backed the player. After his first Premier League goal last season, the Argentine said: "For Mischa he scored his first goal in the Premier League, and for Armando after a long period out he scored again. I’m so happy for them, they deserve it.

"We need to understand that young people need time and need to settle. It’s about adaptation. It’s a big change when Mudryk arrived here and when you arrive at a team, it’s not easy to settle in a team that isn’t solid. He wasn’t the cherry on the cake, they needed to add something to the team.

"It’s about time, having patience, trusting these young talented players, building confidence. It’s a big job, step by step. Sometimes people don’t have the patience but for us it’s about having the patience. Even when we weren’t winning, we were calm, stayed positive, had the belief."