Chelsea ‘pays Mykhailo Mudryk LESS than loanees Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek’

Chelsea are reportedly paying new signing Mykhailo Mudryk less than loaned Callum Hudson-Odoi and fringe player Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

The Blues hijacked Premier League rivals Arsenal’s bid to sign the Ukraine winger from Shakhtar Donetsk, with his arrival confirmed on Friday and the player parading around Stamford Bridge at half-time against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

But as reported by Athletic, the financial package offered by Chelsea wasn’t a big factor in the move – Mudryk was paying £97,000-a-week – just £10,000 more-a-week than Arsenal’s offer – and less than Hudson-Odoi and Loftus-Cheek.

Chelsea are reportedly paying new signing Mykhailo Mudryk (pictured) less than loanee Callum Hudson-Odoi and peripheral midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Hudson-Odoi, sent to German club Bayer Leverkusen this season, is making £120,000 a week

And midfielder Loftus-Cheek, who has not played since November 6, is being paid £150,000 a week

In July 2019, central midfielder Loftus-Cheek signed a new five-year, £150,000-a-week deal but has not played since November 6.

While winger Hudson-Odoi also penned a five-year deal worth £120,000 a week two months later, he fell out of favor under Graham Potter’s predecessor Thomas Tuchel and was loaned out to Bayer Leverkusen on a season in August.

The reported decision to offer Mudryk a relatively low salary – although still just above Arsenal’s salary offer – is said to be a long-term strategy to reduce new owner Todd Boehly’s wage costs.

Mudryk’s relatively small £97,000-a-week compared to his team-mates is said to be part of owner Todd Boehly’s (above) long-term effort to slash the club’s massive wage bill

Despite Raheem Sterling, who joined Boehly this summer under Boehly’s tenure, being paid three times what Mudryk is and Reece James’ salary being boosted to £250,000 a week, the US tycoon is generally hoping to avoid the kind of deals the Loftus-Cheek and were given to Hudson-Odoi after just a few first-team appearances.

Many assumed that Chelsea, who have spent around £400m on players since Boehly took over in June, must have offered a significantly better financial package to tempt Mudryk to join Arsenal’s London rivals who have finished nine places and 19 points behind the Gunners.

But that doesn’t appear to be the case – and indeed, the transfer fee of £61.6m

Arsenal fan Piers Morgan said it was “surprising” that Mudryk chose Chelsea over the Gunners

Gunners fan Morgan questioned why the Ukraine star would join a club whose fans are chanting support for the former owner and one of Vladimir Putin’s “best buds”, Roman Abramovich

On Sunday, TV presenter and Gunners fan Piers Morgan insisted it was “surprising” that Mudryk had chosen Chelsea over Arsenal.

Arsenal were considered favorites to sign the 22-year-old Wideman but the Blues stepped in and sealed the deal.

And incredulous Gunners fan Morgan questioned why Ukraine’s Mudryk would join Chelsea when Blues fans are still chanting in support of former owner Roman Abramovich – one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “best buddies”.

Wealthy tycoon Abramovich (centre) was forced to sell Chelsea to Todd Boehly in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine led by Russian President Putin, with whom he has close ties

Russian tycoon Abramovich, 56, took over Stamford Bridge in 2003 but was forced to sell the club in early 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, led by Putin, with whom he is closely associated. The Russo-Ukrainian war is still ongoing.

In May his exit from Chelsea was confirmed and US businessman Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital bought the club from him in a massive £4.25 billion deal.

Morgan is also tweeting to post Mudryk’s reveal video. The TV presenter said he’s seen “happier hostage videos.”