Setback for Chelsea as Andriy Yarmolenko who was targeted by Jose Mourinho has just penned a contract extension with his Russian club Dynamo Kiev, which sees the player in Dynamo outfit until 2020.
Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton all will be upset too as they were also lined up to sign the Dynamo star.
The Ukrainian striker was hugely linked with a move to Everton last summer as the Chelsea boss scouted the 25-year-old striker in the recent 1-0 defeat against Spain. Rumours were coming that the Blues are also planned a tempted offer for the Yarmolenko. Mourinho was tracking him for his ability to play in any attacking position since the Portuguese was managing Real Madrid. It was expected the race to rope in Yarmolenko would become much more exciting in the upcoming winter transfer window.
The Ukrainian striker revealed in his current club’s website: “I still want [to play in a foreign league]. I know that if Dynamo gets really worthy offers we’ll find an option that satisfies everyone.
“I want the club to get good compensation for me. I could have left for free in a while, but that would have been wrong. I am 100% a Dynamo player. Our team is like my second family. That’s why I keep doing my best to benefit the club.”
Till now Andriy Yarmolenko has featured in 268 games for Dynamo Kyiv outfit scoring 101 goals with 69 assists. He has won three Ukrainian Premier Leagues, two Ukrainian Cups, and three Ukrainian Super Cups.
Individual honours are also quite brilliant with two-time Ukrainian Footballer of the year, 1-time Ukrainian cup top scorer and one-time top assister in UEFA Europa League in the last season.
In the summer transfer window, Italian club Lazio and Spanish giants Barcelona were also linked with Yarmolenko but nobody could sign him as he was rated around £13m.