Tottenham and Chelsea have both held talks about signing Georgiy Sudakov from Shakhtar Donetsk this summer. But the Premier League duo may have to sit tight for now, as the Ukrainian club are keen to let Euro 2024 play out in the hope that Sudakov's price tag will skyrocket.
Still only 21 years old, Sudakov has two seasons of regular first-team football under his belt and the midfielder is rated as one of the brightest young talents in Ukraine. Shakhtar cashed in on Mykhaylo Mudryk for an initial £62million last summer and, in Sudakov, they feel that another big payday is on the horizon.
Express Sport understands that Spurs and Chelsea are among several clubs to have shown a strong interest in the midfielder, with frequent talks taking place in the lead-up to the summer transfer window.
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Such is their confidence in Sudakov, senior figures at the club firmly believe that a sequence of games on a major international stage will send his price tag soaring. Ukraine have been drawn against Romania, Slovakia and Belgium in Group E.
And a trio of high-profile friendlies against Germany, Poland and Moldova should give Sudakov further chances to impress before the tournament gets underway.
Shakhtar turned down a £34million approach from Napoli in January, and the Serie A side refused to bite when met with a £43m counter offer. Sudakov's asking price has risen significantly since then.
The youngster has scored six goals and registered two assists in the Ukrainian Premier League so far this season, as champions in waiting Shakhtar gear up for their final game of the campaign against Polissya Zhytomyr on Saturday.
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Speaking openly on Sudakov's club future, Shakhtar chief Sergei Palkin said last month: "He has a big chance to move to some big clubs this summer. We have had some contacts with big clubs and some are not negotiating with us directly but are getting a feel for the summer environment.
"He will definitely move to a top European club this summer. When I was at Chelsea versus Everton on Monday, many people asked me about Sudakov. The most interest will come from English clubs. For me, he will become one of the best midfielders in Europe and the world."