Chelsea are paying new £88million arrival Mykhailo Mudryk less than Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, according to reports.
The Blues hijacked Premier League rivals Arsenal's bid to sign the Ukrainian winger from Shakhtar Donetsk, with his arrival confirmed on Friday.
But as reported by the Athletic, the financial package offered by Chelsea was not a big factor in the move - with Mudryk paid £97,000 per week - just £10,000 more per week than Arsenal's offer - and less than Hudson-Odoi and Loftus-Cheek.
In July 2019, central midfielder Loftus-Cheek signed a new five-year contract on £150,000 per week, but has not played since November 6.
While winger Hudson-Odoi also put pen to paper on a five-year deal worth £120,000 per week two months later but fell out of favour under Graham Potter's predecessor Thomas Tuchel and was sent out on a season's loan to Bayer Leverkusen.
The reported decision to offer Mudryk a relatively low salary - though still narrowly larger than Arsenal's wage package - is said to be a long-term strategy to bring down the wage bill from new owner Todd Boehly.
More to follow.