Tottenham Close in on Mudryk Loan from Chelsea

Tottenham have surged past Leeds United in the race for Mykhailo Mudryk, with the Chelsea winger set to undergo a medical in north London ahead of a late-window move.

Leeds had been strongly linked with the Ukrainian, with Daniel Farke pushing hard for a new wide attacker before tonight’s 11pm deadline. A winger remains high on his list, but it will not be Mudryk arriving at Elland Road.

Instead, Spurs have stepped in and hijacked the move. According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham have agreed a paid loan with Chelsea that includes a non-mandatory buy option worth around £75 million. Personal terms are also understood to be in place, leaving only the formalities of the medical before the deal can be completed.

Romano wrote on X that “everything [is] agreed also on personal terms” and that Mudryk will join Spurs on loan with a buy option clause. The move would see the 25-year-old link up again with Roberto De Zerbi, under whom he previously flourished.

It continues a staggering summer of spending for De Zerbi’s side. Spurs have already brought in Andy Robertson on a free from Liverpool, Marcos Senesi on a free from Bournemouth, Jan Paul van Hecke for £52m from Brighton, Martin Dubravka on a free from Burnley, Mateus Fernandes for £85m from West Ham, Sandro Tonali for £92.5m from Newcastle United, Savinho for £75m from Manchester City and Omar Marmoush on loan from City. Now Mudryk is poised to join that list, with Tosin Adarabioyo also set for a medical ahead of a move from Chelsea.

Mudryk’s career has been on hold since 2024, when he received a four-year suspension after failing a drug test that showed a low concentration of meldonium, a prohibited substance. He had not played since November of that year, but his ban was overturned on appeal and he was cleared to return to action at the end of last month. Tottenham are now ready to offer him a route back to elite-level football.

For Leeds, the setback has clear knock-on effects. Missing out on Mudryk opens the door wider for two Welsh wingers already in the building. Daniel James and Harry Wilson now stand to benefit from the failed pursuit, at least in the short term.

Wilson, a summer free transfer from Fulham, is pushing to nail down a regular place in Farke’s starting XI. James, after an injury-ravaged 18 months, is trying to relaunch his Leeds career and recapture the explosive form that once made him a constant threat in the Premier League.

They both know the manager still wants more firepower. Farke remains determined to strengthen his front line before the window shuts, a clear message that no one in those wide positions can feel entirely secure. Leeds finished 14th in the Premier League last season; that will not satisfy anyone at Elland Road.

Another key piece in the puzzle is Wilfried Gnonto. The Italian forward is expected to leave for Fiorentina, but only if Leeds can bring in a replacement in time. That condition piles extra pressure on the final hours of the window and underlines how finely balanced Farke’s attacking plans remain.

The clock is ticking towards 11pm. Mudryk is heading for Tottenham. Leeds are still searching, still juggling exits and arrivals, and still one decisive deal away from knowing what their forward line will really look like this season.