Tottenham Surges Ahead of Leeds for Mykhailo Mudryk
Tottenham have surged past Leeds United in the race for Mykhailo Mudryk, leaving Daniel Farke’s side hunting alternative attacking options on deadline day.
The Chelsea winger is set to undergo a medical at Spurs after the north London club moved decisively to jump the queue, despite Leeds having been strongly linked with the Ukrainian and a new wide forward sitting near the top of Farke’s wishlist.
Leeds had positioned themselves as serious contenders and remained hopeful of landing Mudryk as the clock ticked towards the 11pm cut-off. Instead, they have watched the deal swing dramatically towards Tottenham, who are closing in on a paid loan agreement that includes a buy option of around £75 million.
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano reported the breakthrough, stating on X that “everything [is] agreed also on personal terms” and that Mudryk will join Spurs on loan with a non-mandatory option to buy. The move will see the 25-year-old link up again with Roberto De Zerbi, under whom he previously flourished.
It marks another bold move in a lavish summer for De Zerbi’s side. Tottenham have already reshaped their squad with a string of high-profile additions: Andy Robertson arrived 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 Spurs are preparing to put two more players through their medicals, with both Mudryk and defender Tosin Adarabioyo expected to join from London rivals Chelsea as the window reaches its frantic conclusion.
Mudryk’s story adds another layer of intrigue. In 2024, he received a four-year suspension after a failed drug test revealed a low concentration of the banned substance meldonium. He had not played since November of that year, but his situation changed at the end of last month when his doping ban was resolved on appeal, clearing him to return to competitive action.
For Leeds, missing out on Mudryk reshapes the picture on the flanks. The setback opens the door wider for two Welsh internationals in Yorkshire: Daniel James and Harry Wilson. Both operate in the wide attacking roles Mudryk would have contested.
Wilson, signed on a free transfer from Fulham in the summer, now has an even clearer path to stake his claim for a regular starting place. James, coming off a difficult 18 months disrupted by injuries, suddenly finds his importance underlined again just as he looks to re-establish rhythm and confidence.
Yet the message from Farke is unmistakable. Leeds still want more firepower. The manager remains determined to add at least one attacker before the deadline, a stance that keeps pressure firmly on James and Wilson as the club looks to climb from last season’s 14th-place finish in the Premier League.
Another key thread in Leeds’ late business is Wilfried Gnonto. The Italian is expected to leave Elland Road for Fiorentina, but that move will only be given the green light if Leeds secure a replacement. The Mudryk twist, then, is not just a missed opportunity; it complicates the entire attacking puzzle.
As the hours drain away towards 11pm, Tottenham look set to unveil another statement signing. Leeds, meanwhile, are left to improvise on the fly, their winger search suddenly more urgent, their margin for error vanishing with every passing minute of this window.
