Suspended for doping for a year, Mykhailo Mudryk will soon finish serving his ban. Chelsea would reportedly be considering sending him to Strasbourg to relaunch him during the winter transfer window.
Recruited for €100m (£88m) by Chelsea in January 2023, Mykhailo Mudryk was regarded as one of the most talented players of the 2001 generation. Despite some flashes of brilliance, the Ukrainian winger has absolutely not adapted to the Premier League. Worse, in November 2024, he tested positive for a banned substance. Whilst Mykhailo Mudryk has always proclaimed his innocence, he was handed a suspension of over a year by the English FA.
The 24-year-old player will be authorised to make his return to the pitch on 17th January 2025, and he is still under contract with Chelsea. But the English club will probably not integrate him into the rotation. According to information from journalist Achille Ash, the Blues would reportedly be considering sending him on loan to Strasbourg. A method that has proved successful in the past and which would allow them to assess whether the former Ukrainian prodigy still has the level for a club as competitive as Chelsea.
Why Mudryk is still far from a Strasbourg loan
For Mykhailo Mudryk, this Ligue 1 loan would be a good solution to allow him to regain his touch, away from the Premier League where all his appearances were scrutinised. Nevertheless, FIFA have very strict rules regarding loans. Strasbourg have already welcomed three Blues players this summer, with goalkeeper Mike Penders, defender Mamadou Sarr and midfielder Kendry Paez. Racing can no longer be loaned any Chelsea players.
If Chelsea genuinely want to loan Mykhailo Mudryk to Strasbourg, they will need to terminate another player's loan. Of the three names previously mentioned, it is Ecuadorian Kendry Paez who plays the least under Liam Rosenior. It also remains to be seen whether the English manager would accept integrating a player, admittedly talented, but who has not played a single minute in a professional match for over a year. The winter transfer window will provide some answers.
This article was originally published on Top Mercato.
