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Scott Trotter & Bobby Vincent

Chelsea's Mykhailo Mudryk transfer problem as Noni Madueke stance on PSV exit made clear


Following Chelsea's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, football.london's Scott Trotter and Bobby Vincent spoke about the game, as well as the reaction to the signing of Mykhailo Mudryk and the ongoing talks to try and sign Noni Madueke from PSV Eindhoven. Below is the full transcript.

Scott: "We've got a win to talk about and you were at Stamford Bridge yesterday, Bobby. Do you want to talk about the game, the Kai Havertz goal and how Chelsea looked?"

Bobby: "Chelsea looked much better than they have recently which isn't particularly hard. There was more of a steel about them, they didn't look so sloppy on the ball, their shape was better. By no means were they outstanding and Potter will know that but they needed that.

READ MORE: Graham Potter has already made Conor Gallagher transfer decision amid Premier League interest

"They were good. The formation worked well against what Palace were trying. To be honest, I don't think Palace were very good at all. I don't want to take it away from Chelsea, but if they were against a better team then they might have been punished. But Chelsea won't care too much about that.

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"You should've seen the relief on Potter's face after the game – when the full-time whistle was blown and when he came in for the post-match press conference. Understandably so because they've gone through such a bad run of form and the pressure has been immense on Potter, so he would have just been hoping for the three points. They got it.

"They're going to face harder tasks than Palace at home, but they can only beat what's in front of them. Now they have almost a week to prepare for what is another out of form team in Liverpool, so it will be interesting to see if Chelsea can use this rare opportunity of six days essentially to build on the win."

Scott: "We saw a few changes to the side that were beaten at Fulham. A few players who people called to come back into the team; the likes of Carney Chukwuemeka, Conor Gallagher and Benoit Badiashile. How did those guys look?"

Bobby: "I was really excited to see Chukwuemeka because like you said he's been playing really well off the bench. That was his first start in the Premier League for Chelsea, he's been coming off the bench.

"To be brutally honest, he wasn't great. It wasn't his best performance. He couldn't really get on the ball as much as he has been doing. In recent games, he's been creating chances and looking like the sort of midfielder Chelsea need, but it wasn't his day. He wasn't especially bad and he still had some decent moments.

"Conor Gallagher was good. He was one of the best players on the pitch. A lot of Chelsea fans have been on his back which is understandable because he hasn't been as good as he has hoped, even though he hasn't been given the chances.

"He did get a chance on Sunday against the club he was at last season and he was good. Nobody can question what he does off the ball with the speed and the energy he shows, but on Sunday there were a few moments while in possession where he looked good. He drove with the ball a lot, trying to bring the ball from midfield to attack. It was probably the best performance I've seen from him this season.

"Badiashile on his debut, he looked very assured. He looked calm and composed on the ball – there's a lot to be said for that at Chelsea because they've had an out of form Koulibaly who hasn't been as good as we know he can be and has been sloppy on the ball.

"Badiashile kept it simple, but that's all that was needed. He partnered Thiago Silva very well. He couldn't have really asked for a better debut: a clean sheet, three points and a strong performance. I think all three of those players have made a claim to start against Liverpool on Saturday."

Scott: "We have another new signing, a big-money new signing, with the addition of Mykhailo Mudryk at the weekend. That news broke on Saturday evening and the next thing you know, they're on the plane with Mudryk and he's having a medical, he's present at Stamford Bridge before he's even been announced.

"The announcement was in the middle of the game. I've not really seen a transfer unfold quite like it, particularly given it's a player who has put out his love for Arsenal in recent weeks. But a very quick turnaround, Chelsea have paid a little bit more than Arsenal were willing to. What do you make of that and what was the atmosphere like when he was announced?"

Bobby: "It was all so strange. It broke on Saturday night, I saw it and couldn't believe it. We've known Chelsea have liked him, but everyone had a feeling it was more to do with Mudryk's agent trying to get a move to Arsenal done because it looked set in stone for him to move there.

"He's made no secret of his love of Arsenal on social media and in interviews. Then Chelsea come calling and they just get it done so quickly, like they have done with transfers ever since Todd Boehly took over last year.

"The feeling midway through the game, it was weird. I was speaking to our colleague Adam Newson before the game and we saw some murmurs on Twitter of him being presented to the crowd either before the game or at half-time. It was odd.

"I think Chelsea fans, because it was 0-0 at the time, benefited from the lift with a big-money signing in Mudryk and the fact they beat arch rivals Arsenal to his signature as well makes it even sweeter. It was a surprise.

"It's strange because they've obviously already signed Joao Felix, they're in talks with Madueke, and there are other attackers as well. It just seems a bit strange when the right-back and midfield spot, to us fans and viewers, it seems more obvious to recruit there.

"But look, they've done it and Todd Boehly certainly knows how to make a statement. I don't know how early he'll be introduced to the team because he hasn't played much football since November. It's exciting, though, it's exciting."

Scott: "For sure. It's an interesting one because he's somebody who hasn't played a great deal of football given the situation in Ukraine at the moment. He has impressed in the Champions League. It will be interesting to see how quickly he is introduced to the team.

"We saw how quickly Joao Felix was [introduced], but he was probably more match-ready. He [Mudryk] was in the box on Sunday – he met Felix and Levi Colwill, who was there at Stamford Bridge.

"We'll move on to Noni Madueke from PSV. That is a move we reported last week. Chelsea were in conversations with PSV about what they could do there. He's a young talent who came through at Tottenham initially before heading off to PSV. He looks very promising, but with injuries he hasn't played as much football as he would've liked.

"Those negotiations are still ongoing. Chelsea's move for Mudryk has not impacted the interest in the player and Chelsea could soon have another winger..."

Bobby: "Yeah, most clubs would sign one winger but obviously Chelsea want to go for both. I wanted to check in with people I know close to PSV and they confirmed that talks are still ongoing, they happened over the weekend and they will continue as the week goes on.

"PSV are still the same as they were: they don't want to sell. But take that with a pinch of salt. A lot of clubs say that and as the old cliché goes: 'Money talks', and that could indeed be the case here.

"There's a feeling that perhaps has been floated between intermediaries and the clubs that PSV will sell for around €45million, which equates to just under £40million. He played on Sunday, a full 90 minutes and played really well, created a load of chances. I asked if he was distracted by all of the speculation over his future and I was told that was not the case. He's settled in Eindhoven and at the moment he's happy.

"It's not advanced, it's just talks. If there is a breakthrough, then he could look at this project and all of these exciting players coming to Chelsea. A return to his homeland of England as well, which he has in the past said he wants to do one day."

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