Chelsea are weighing up options for a loan departure for Mykhailo Mudryk as the winger works to regain match sharpness following a lengthy absence from professional football.
The 25-year-old Ukraine international has not featured in a competitive fixture since November 2024, when he was hit with a provisional suspension after testing positive for meldonium, a banned substance. That case resulted in a four-year ban, though a settlement was later reached that allowed Mudryk to resume his career sooner than initially expected.
Since returning to action, Mudryk has appeared as a substitute in three pre-season friendlies during Chelsea's tour of Asia, coming off the bench against Juventus, AC Milan and Johor Darul Ta'zim. Those outings have been viewed as an early step in restoring his fitness after nearly 20 months without playing.
Following discussions held toward the end of the Asian tour, Mudryk is understood to have agreed in principle to a temporary move away from Stamford Bridge before the summer transfer window shuts on 1 September.
One option under consideration is a switch to Strasbourg, the Ligue 1 club that, like Chelsea, falls under the BlueCo ownership umbrella. However, reports suggest Mudryk himself is keen to remain in England and would favor a loan to another Premier League side rather than heading to France.
Interest has reportedly extended beyond England as well, with several prominent Italian clubs also said to be monitoring the winger's situation as he seeks regular football to rebuild his form and conditioning.
Mudryk joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023 in a deal reported at an initial £61m, a fee that could rise further with add-ons. He signed an extended contract that keeps him tied to the west London club until 2031, meaning any loan arrangement would only be a short-term solution rather than a permanent exit.
His case became one of the more high-profile doping sagas in English football after the adverse finding was confirmed last year. The subsequent ban threatened to sideline him for a significant portion of his career, but the resolution reached with anti-doping authorities has paved the way for his gradual reintegration into first-team action.
Chelsea's willingness to sanction a loan reflects the club's need to manage a crowded squad while also giving Mudryk the opportunity to accumulate playing time away from the intense scrutiny at Stamford Bridge. With the transfer deadline approaching, negotiations are expected to intensify as clubs across Europe assess whether they can offer the winger the platform he is seeking.
Whether Mudryk ultimately stays within the Premier League, moves to Strasbourg, or joins one of the interested Italian sides remains to be settled. What is clear is that after a turbulent period away from competitive football, the Ukrainian is now focused on finding regular minutes to reignite a career that once carried significant promise following his big-money move from Shakhtar Donetsk.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.