Chelsea set sights on signing €40 million rated Brazilian star as Mykhailo Mudryk replacement

Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing Atletico Madrid winger Samuel Lino. They are monitoring the Brazilian as a potential replacement for Mykhaylo Mudryk.

Mudryk hasn't had a great stint at Stamford Bridge since arriving from Shakhtar Donetsk for a reported fee of €100 million in January 2023. He scored just seven goals and provided two assists in 41 games across competitions last season. He has provided just two assists in five games across competitions this time around.

The Ukrainian winger has started just four games across competitions and just once in the Premier League. He looks to be down in the pecking order for Enzo Maresca. Hence, as per Fichajes.net (via Caught Offside), Chelsea are looking for potential replacements.

They have identified Brazilian winger Samuel Lino as a potential target. The 24-year-old has impressed since joining Atletico Madrid from Gil Vicente in 2022. He's made 53 appearances for the Spanish giants, registering eight goals and nine assists. He also spent the 2022-23 season on loan at Valencia.

Lino can also play on the left side of the midfield and has made seven appearances across competitions this season, providing one assist. As per the aforementioned report, Atletico value him at around €40 million, with his contract expiring in 2027.

Enzo Maresca heaps praise on Chelsea star ahead of Brighton clash

The Blues are set to face Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Saturday, September 28. In a pre-match press conference, Enzo Maresca heaped praise on Marc Cucurella and his importance to the team.

He said (via Chelseafc.com):

"Marc is very important. Marc has something that you sometimes struggle to find in players. He is good and he is making the players around him good because he is a guy who is always talking, always demanding.

"If you can have five, six or seven players like Marc in your team, who are always talking about improving the rest, it’s very important. So I’m very happy with Marc."

Chelsea signed Marc Cucurella from Brighton for a reported fee of £62 million in the summer of 2022. He didn't have a great start to life at Stamford Bridge but has grown in his role since the latter half of the last season.

The Spaniard has started all five Premier League games for Chelsea under Enzo Maresca this season, helping them keep two clean sheets.

About the author

Aditya has been working as a European football journalist and editor for Sportskeeda for close to 4 years. He boasts a total experience of over 7 years, and always aims to inculcate proper context in his articles, making the most of his prior stints in writing and marketing across a number of different industries over the years. He has also played football at college level for 2 years.

A B.Tech. graduate, Aditya's journey as an ardent football fan began after watching the elegant maestro Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and his infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi in the final. He has been a fan of Tottenham Hotspur's front foot and creative football since 2008 and connect's with the club's underdog status.

Aditya, who is a Sportskeeda 'Long-form Editor of the Month' award winner, is a big admirer of Luka Modric's elegant and hard-working style of play. His favorite manager is Carlo Ancelotti because the Italian allows his players enough freedom in an age where micromanagement is the established norm.

Aditya feels Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala could replicate the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry due to their incredible collective potential. In his free time, he likes to read classical fiction, travel to places, and explore a variety of foods.

Know More