Chelsea has received multiple inquiries about winger Mykhailo Mudryk from clubs interested in his return to football, including three from the Premier League. Sources have indicated that Coventry City, managed by Frank Lampard who previously worked with Mudryk at Chelsea, is among the clubs that have enquired.
All potential outcomes are being considered for Mudryk this summer, including a potential loan move. The 25-year-old Ukrainian player has traveled to Hong Kong to join his Chelsea teammates on their pre-season tour, where manager Xabi Alonso plans to assess his current performance levels. Mudryk has not participated in competitive football since November 2024, when he last played in a Conference League match and subsequently failed a doping test.
Another possibility for Mudryk is a loan spell at Strasbourg, Chelsea's sister club in France's Ligue 1, which would keep him within the BlueCo ownership group. Wingers are in high demand during the current transfer window, which may explain the significant interest in Mudryk's return, despite uncertainty about his current fitness.
Chelsea initially paid £89 million for Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk, recognizing his high potential. His return is seen as a welcome surprise by Alonso, who commented on the news after a pre-season loss to Tottenham in Sydney. Mudryk is expected to train with the Chelsea squad in Hong Kong, where the team will play a friendly against Juventus. Further matches are scheduled in Indonesia and Malaysia before Chelsea returns to London to host Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge.
Mudryk's return to professional football was facilitated by an adjustment in how the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) measures meldonium, the substance he tested positive for. WADA increased the threshold for violations, meaning that under the current standards, Mudryk's sample would not have been considered a rule violation. He has reached a resolution with WADA and the Football Association, which has determined that he has served the penalty for his infraction.
During his suspension, which sources described as lengthy and solitary, Mudryk trained almost daily with a private coach. Chelsea has reportedly been supportive of Mudryk throughout the process, maintaining belief in his claims of innocence since he was informed of his failed test in November 2024, following his last appearance against Heidenheim in September 2024 while on international duty with Ukraine.