Mykhailo Mudryk has made Roberto De Zerbi stance clear as possible new Chelsea manager found

Chelsea attacker Mykhailo Mudryk has struggled to transfer his electric form from the Champions League in 2022 at Shakhtar Donetsk to the Premier League. 14 months into his career at Stamford Bridge and the flashes of electric brilliance remain just that. Flashes.

The 23-year-old, who signed for an initial £62million that could rise to over £85million if he triggers some ambitious add-ons, has only managed five goals for the club since his move from Ukraine. In a patchy first full season at the club he has rarely looked more settled than during the final six months of last term.

He remains one of the great unknowns in the Blues' squad for Mauricio Pochettino. Unable to tie a consistent place down and still capable of the sublime or disastrous at any moment, he looks little more established than the raw talent brought in under Graham Potter in January 2022.

His peaks and troughs have been a small element of nine months of struggle for Pochettino in charge. Having come in with the goal of turning Mudryk into Chelsea's version of Son Heung-min, there is nothing to suggest a rise of the same order is on the cards.

Pochettino is now fighting to prove his worth as head coach in the final months of the season. Chelsea, in 11th, have plenty within reach optically — they are still in touch of the top seven and are favourites to reach the FA Cup semi-final ahead of their meeting with Leicester next week — but their manager is under fire from the fans.

Mudryk has been unable to help stem the tide of criticism levied at his boss either. Not even one year on from sacking Graham Potter, reports suggest that the club are already planning for life without Pochettino as well.

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