Tottenham Seizes Mudryk Deal as Leeds' Plans Collapse

Tottenham have stormed to the front of the queue for Mykhailo Mudryk, leaving Leeds United scrambling for alternatives on deadline day.

The Chelsea winger is set to undergo a medical at Spurs after the north London club moved decisively to gazump Leeds, who had been pushing hard to add wide firepower for Daniel Farke before the 11pm cut-off.

For much of the day, Leeds were firmly in the conversation. A winger sits near the top of Farke’s wish list, and Mudryk’s availability had turned heads at Elland Road. Then Spurs arrived with a plan, money on the table and a clear route back to the elite for the Ukrainian.

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano reported that Tottenham have agreed a paid loan with Chelsea, with a non-mandatory buy option set at around £75 million. Personal terms are in place, and Mudryk is expected to reunite with Roberto De Zerbi, under whom he previously flourished.

It marks another eye-catching move in a staggering summer of spending for De Zerbi’s side. Spurs have already pulled in Andy Robertson on a free from Liverpool, Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth for nothing, 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 they are lining up medicals for two more arrivals from across the capital. Mudryk is one; defender Tosin Adarabioyo is also set to join from Chelsea, underlining just how aggressively Spurs are attacking the final hours of the window.

Mudryk’s story brings its own edge. The 25-year-old was hit with a four-year suspension in 2024 after a failed drug test revealed a low concentration of the banned substance meldonium. He has not played since November of that year. An appeal eventually cleared the way for his return, with his doping ban resolved and the winger given the green light to play again at the end of last month.

Tottenham are prepared to be the club that offers him that fresh start. Leeds, once hopeful of being that platform, must now pivot.

The collapse of this particular pursuit does open a door for two men already in Yorkshire. Daniel James and Harry Wilson, both Welsh internationals, stand to benefit from the failed chase, at least in the short term.

Wilson arrived on a free from Fulham in the summer and is still staking his claim for a regular starting role. James enters the campaign after a bruising 18 months, his progress repeatedly disrupted by injury. A marquee winger signing would have pushed both further down the pecking order. For now, they stay front and centre in Farke’s wide options.

That does not mean they can relax. Farke’s determination to add another attacker is no secret, and the club’s intent to sharpen their cutting edge after last season’s 14th-place Premier League finish remains unchanged. Any new arrival on the flank will put immediate pressure on the existing wide men to deliver.

Wilfried Gnonto’s situation only heightens the tension. The Italian is expected to leave Elland Road for Fiorentina, but Leeds will only sanction the move if they can secure a replacement. With the clock ticking toward 11pm, every call, every conversation, carries extra weight.

Leeds entered deadline day chasing Mudryk. By night’s end, they may instead be fighting to hold their nerve, keep their squad balanced and avoid watching another key piece walk out with no one coming through the door.