Chelsea have decided against selling Mykhailo Mudryk this summer despite interest from several clubs, with the west London side instead prepared to sanction a loan move for the Ukrainian winger.
According to reports, the Blues are fielding enquiries from a number of suitors but have made it clear that any departure will only be on a temporary basis. Sister club Strasbourg, part of the BlueCo ownership group, have emerged as one of the frontrunners to secure his services for the coming campaign.
A move to the French Ligue 1 side would see Mudryk follow in the footsteps of academy talent Genesis Antwi and Danish goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, who both made the switch to Strasbourg earlier this summer. However, regulations limit any club to a maximum of three players on loan from another at one time, meaning Mudryk's arrival would complete that quota should the deal go through.
Despite the interest from Strasbourg, it is understood that Mudryk himself would prefer to remain in England, with several Premier League clubs said to be monitoring his situation. Staying at Stamford Bridge has not been completely ruled out, but current indications point towards a loan exit being the most probable outcome before the transfer window closes.
The 25-year-old joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023 in a big-money deal and has racked up 21 goal contributions in 73 appearances for the club across all competitions since then. His time in England, though, has been disrupted by a lengthy absence after he was handed a four-year ban by the Football Association following a positive test for meldonium, a banned substance, during a routine doping check in the winter of 2024.
The suspension was later overturned after Mudryk successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, clearing the way for his return to competitive action. During his time out, the winger continued training independently with private coaches, regularly posting footage of shooting drills and fitness work on social media to stay sharp.
His reintroduction to the Chelsea squad was warmly received by manager Enzo Maresca... actually, it was head coach Marco Alonso — no, sources credit the comments to Alonso, who described the moment as an emotional one for everyone connected to the club.
"I'm really pleased for him," Alonso said following Mudryk's comeback appearance. "It was emotional for everyone from the club to see him back. When I told him before the game he could play 10 or 15 minutes, he was thrilled for sure. It was after such a long period [that he couldn't play with the team], so it was a great feeling for him and for everyone else."
With his ban now lifted and his fitness gradually being restored, attention turns to where Mudryk will spend the upcoming season. Chelsea's stance suggests they still view him as a long-term asset worth retaining rather than cashing in on, even as they explore short-term loan solutions to help him rebuild match sharpness and form away from the intense scrutiny of Stamford Bridge.
Whether that solution comes via Strasbourg or a Premier League rival remains to be seen, but for now the message from Chelsea is clear: Mudryk is not for sale, and any move this summer will be temporary in nature as both player and club look to plot the next step in his career following a turbulent period on and off the pitch.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport (standard-football).