Newcastle United star deems January transfer ‘a risk’ after Arsenal snub

Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson has had his say on the biggest transfer of the January window so far.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Chelsea have completed the £88million signing of Mykhaylo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk on a mammoth eight-and-a-half year deal until the summer of 2031. The Blues hijacked a deal for the Ukrainian winger from Premier League rivals Arsenal, who had made a substantial bid but were not willing to match Shakhtar’s asking price.

Newcastle United were also previously credited with an interest in Mudryk when he was valued around the £30million mark. But even that fee saw The Magpies refrain from making a move for a player who was still unproven at the top level.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mudryk has made just 65 competitive senior appearances in his career so far, scoring 12 times. But his impressive form this season has seen him score 10 goals in 18 appearances, including three in six matches in the Champions League.

Chelsea's new signing, Chelsea's Ukrainian midfielder Mykhailo Mudryk is introduced to the crowd at half-time in the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge in London on January 15, 2023.(Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)Chelsea's new signing, Chelsea's Ukrainian midfielder Mykhailo Mudryk is introduced to the crowd at half-time in the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge in London on January 15, 2023.(Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's new signing, Chelsea's Ukrainian midfielder Mykhailo Mudryk is introduced to the crowd at half-time in the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge in London on January 15, 2023.(Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)

And Newcastle star Callum Wilson believes the player has taken a ‘risk’ in joining Chelsea on a long-term deal.

Speaking on the Footballer’s Football podcast, Wilson said: "It’s a tricky one because he’s obviously had to take so much into consideration.

"As a player at that age you’re coming into a key time of your career where you want to keep developing, so if he sees himself developing at Chelsea more than Arsenal or sees himself developing at that one club for eight-and-a-half years, it’s a long time.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Throughout that time he’s going to be getting a testimonial at the end of it! It’s like you’re ultimately committing and dedicating your career to that club, so I feel it’s a tricky one really.”

"I’d like to go in smaller stages to see how you go and managers could change.”

Read More
£25m ex-Leeds man wanted by Premier League club as Newcastle United make transfe...

Chelsea currently sit 10th in the Premier League table, 10 points behind Newcastle in fourth and 19 points behind leaders Arsenal.

“They’re not having the best of seasons at the moment,” Wilson continued. "So you just don’t know, but it’s a risk he’s taken and I’ve not really seen much of him but I’m sure for the money that they’ve paid he must be a great player."