The dust is settling after a frantic transfer deadline day that saw two significant moves reshape Premier League squads, with both Mykhailo Mudryk and Enzo Fernandez set to make swift impacts at their new clubs.
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that Mudryk is in contention to make his debut for the club against Nottingham Forest this weekend, just days after arriving on loan from Chelsea with a £75million option to buy included in the deal next summer. Spurs moved for the Ukrainian winger on deadline day having failed to score in either of their opening two Premier League fixtures this season.
Mudryk, 25, has not featured in a competitive match since November 2024 after being hit with a doping ban following a positive test for the banned substance meldonium. The FA had initially imposed a four-year suspension, but after an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the case was resolved in July, clearing Mudryk to resume playing immediately. He subsequently featured for Chelsea during the closing stages of their pre-season tour of Australia and Asia as he worked to rebuild his fitness.
De Zerbi, speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, indicated that while Mudryk is not yet ready for a full 90 minutes, he could be involved in some capacity against Forest. "He needs time to be able to start," De Zerbi said. "One part of the game, I think he's ready right now to play 20, 15, 30 minutes."
The Italian coach, who previously worked with Mudryk at Shakhtar Donetsk and once tipped him to win the Ballon d'Or during his time at Brighton, was keen to put those earlier comments into context. "We spent a very particular season together in Shakhtar. When the war started, we were together. When I spoke about the Ballon d'Or, I was very clear. Maybe my English is not so good, but I was very clear because I was speaking about the potential of the player," De Zerbi explained. He added that Mudryk has faced setbacks since then, including the suspension, but insisted the player's underlying quality remains undiminished. "The potential is clear, and now his challenge is to respect all his qualities. Because he's a great player. He has to feel this season, to live this season in the right way. Not too much pressure, but it's the right moment for him to show all people things. Because if Chelsea paid 100 million four years ago... I think they thought very well about the qualities of Mudryk."
Elsewhere, Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has clarified the role that new signing Enzo Fernandez will play following his £125million deadline-day move from Chelsea. Maresca, who previously worked with Fernandez at Stamford Bridge where the Argentine served as captain, confirmed that the leadership group at the Etihad will not include his compatriot this season. Instead, Ruben Dias will retain the captaincy, with Erling Haaland, Marc Guehi and Gianluigi Donnarumma next in the pecking order.
Despite the change in status, Maresca made clear he values Fernandez's winning mentality and is thrilled to be reunited with him. "He's a winner," Maresca said. "When you belong to a squad, and a winning player arrives, you are always happy. I can promise you, the players ask me 'is he coming?' Because they want him to be with us." Maresca also praised the club's recruitment efforts, noting the arrivals of Fernandez and another new signing had completed his squad. "I'm very happy for the effort from the ownership. In the last days Iliman and Enzo arrive, and now the squad is complete. Now it's time to work." Maresca confirmed Fernandez is ready to feature when his new side faces Coventry on Saturday.
At Chelsea, head coach Xabi Alonso addressed Fernandez's exit after the midfielder had been omitted from matchday squads for fixtures against Luton and Brighton. "In football many things happen. With Enzo we have had conversations and always with respect," Alonso said. "What he has done for the club has been great, but now it's time to move forward. We have players with quality in every position and now we are ready to go."
Based on reporting from standard-football and independent-football.