Earlier this month, it emerged that, while a midfielder with admirers throughout the Premier League will be free to pursue a new challenge this summer, anyone keen on signing him would have to stump up a far larger bid than the £30 million one Napoli lodged in 2023.
Exactly how much more, however, was not explained.
Until now, that is.
HITC understands that title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City are both keen on Shakhtar Donetsk’s extremely high-rated – and highly coveted – Georgiy Sudakov. But they are not alone. Chelsea, Newcastle, West Ham United and Aston Villa are watching too, as are a Liverpool side who maybe need a little bit of inspiration to go alongside their midfield perspiration.
Sudakov is also on the radars of Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen, and confirmed recently that Juventus also made a move for him in a previous window.
And Darijo Srna, Shakhtar’s director of football, has now shone a light on the sort of offers the Ukrainian giants are waiting for.
Arsenal and Man City told to pay over £50 million
“Shakhtar’s president (Sergei Palkin) wants to get big money for Sudakov. If he wanted to get 40 to 45 million (euros), he would have already given him to Napoli,” Srna explains to Sport24.
“But Sudakov is a unique footballer. He does a crazy amount of work and has a head on his shoulders. There are not many such players in Europe. Sudakov will leave for a very large sum. I’m sure it’s more than 60 million euros.”
Or £51 million, if you like.
Of course, the struggles of Mykahylo Mudryk at Chelsea may have Sudakov’s growing throng of admirers concerned about the prospect of history repeating itself, but arguably the greatest footballer in Ukraine’s history has no such fears.
Georgiy Sudakov following Jude Bellingham’s lead
“Sudakov is a very interesting player. A dynamic football player who can play several roles,” Andriy Shevchenko, a Ballon D’Or winner with AC Milan, tells Tuttosport.
“I first called him up to the national team (when I was manager) three years ago. He is a great talent who can make significant progress if he goes to play in Serie A or the Premier League.”
A highly-technical attacking midfielder, Sudakov likens his game to that of Phil Foden and James Maddison, while admitting to having also taken inspiration from Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham.
He understands the importance of adding more goals to his game, too, although he is enjoying some impressive form in the final third. Sudakov recently took his tally to eight for the campaign.
“I would like to look to the future, that I have the opportunity to move to another team,” Sudakov tells Sport Ukraine. “However, now everyone is watching and talking only about those players who score goals and give assists. I give an example of (Jude) Bellingham.
“For my situation, goals and assists are very important.”
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