Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has emerged as a transfer target for several clubs after receiving clearance to resume his football career following the resolution of his doping case.
Interest in the Ukrainian international has intensified during the summer transfer window, with multiple teams exploring the possibility of signing him as Chelsea weigh their options for the upcoming season.
Premier League Sides Join Race for Chelsea Winger
Several clubs have contacted Chelsea to inquire about Mudryk’s availability, with reports indicating that at least three Premier League teams have expressed interest.
Among them is newly-promoted Coventry City, whose manager, Frank Lampard, previously coached the winger during his spell at Stamford Bridge in 2023.
Lampard’s familiarity with the player is believed to have played a role in Coventry’s interest as the club looks to strengthen its squad ahead of its return to the Premier League.
Chelsea Yet to Decide Mudryk’s Immediate Future
Despite the growing interest, Chelsea have not made a final decision regarding Mudryk’s future.
Club officials are expected to evaluate the 25-year-old before determining whether he remains part of the first-team plans or is sent out on loan to regain match sharpness.
Mudryk has travelled with Chelsea’s squad to Hong Kong for their pre-season tour, where new head coach Xabi Alonso will assess his condition after an extended absence from competitive football.
Extended Layoff Raises Fitness Questions
Mudryk has not featured in an official match since November 2024, when he scored in Chelsea’s UEFA Conference League victory over Heidenheim.
Shortly after that appearance, he was informed that he had returned a positive doping test, bringing his campaign to an abrupt halt.
Having spent many months away from competitive action, there remains uncertainty over his current fitness levels, making Chelsea’s pre-season assessment particularly important before any decision is reached.
Loan Move Remains a Strong Possibility
One option under consideration is a temporary move away from Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea could choose to send Mudryk to Strasbourg, the French Ligue 1 club that shares ownership under the BlueCo group.
Such an arrangement would allow the winger to regain regular playing time while remaining within Chelsea’s wider football network, giving the club closer oversight of his development.
Alonso Welcomes Unexpected Addition
Mudryk’s return has provided Chelsea with an additional attacking option ahead of the new campaign.
Alonso recently acknowledged that the winger’s availability came as a welcome surprise during the club’s pre-season preparations.
Chelsea’s tour continues with a friendly against Juventus in Hong Kong before further fixtures in Indonesia and Malaysia.
The club will conclude its preparations with a home match against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge, where Mudryk could potentially make his first appearance at the stadium since facing Arsenal in November 2024.
Rule Change Paved the Way for Return
Mudryk’s return became possible after the World Anti-Doping Agency revised its reporting threshold for meldonium, the substance involved in his case.
The governing body increased the minimum reporting level from 120 to 150 percent, meaning that under the updated standard, the sample that originally triggered Mudryk’s suspension would no longer have constituted an anti-doping violation.
Following discussions involving WADA and the Football Association, an agreement was reached recognising that Mudryk had effectively served the necessary suspension, allowing him to resume his professional career.
Chelsea Maintained Support Throughout Suspension
Throughout his lengthy absence, Mudryk reportedly continued training almost every day in an effort to remain prepared for a return.
He is understood to have hired training facilities, including the pitch at non-League club Uxbridge, where he worked with a private coach to maintain his physical condition.
Chelsea are also believed to have supported the winger throughout the process, standing by his repeated insistence that he had not intentionally breached anti-doping regulations.
It is understood the positive test stemmed from a period spent with the Ukraine national team in September 2024, before he was officially notified of the result shortly after his appearance against Heidenheim two months later.
