Shakhtar Donetsk sporting director Darijo Srna has explained why Georgiy Sudakov remained with the club during the winter transfer window. In an interview with Football Hub, Srna highlighted the young midfielder's potential but emphasized that he still has room for growth before being ready for a top European club.

"There was one concrete offer for Sudakov about six to eight months ago. There were many inquiries, but Napoli was the most serious. I believe players should first prove their quality on the pitch and help the team achieve results. The transfer will come in time," Srna said.

"Shakhtar has never held onto a player if it was time to sell. We sell at the right moment. I’m confident this will be the case with many of our players. Sudakov is a very important player for Shakhtar and the Ukrainian national team. He’s still young and has a bright future ahead."

"Sudakov still has a lot of work to do to be ready for a top club, like Fernandinho, Douglas Costa, Alex Teixeira, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan were. He needs to go through the steps that will prepare him for a move to a top European club," Srna added.

This season, Sudakov has scored 10 goals and provided 3 assists in 25 matches across all competitions for Shakhtar. The 22-year-old's contract with the club runs until December 31, 2028, and his market value is estimated at €32 million by Transfermarkt.