Mikhail Mudryk is back in a Chelsea shirt following the end of his suspension. Questions about the winger's future at Stamford Bridge have already emerged.
The 25-year-old winger returns to a squad where five other wide players are already competing for a starting spot.
Signings of Jeovani Kenda and Morgan Rogers have added to the list that already includes Pedro Neto, Estevao, and Jamie Gittens.
Estevao is considered an untouchable player. Rogers joined for a club-record fee, and Gittens has shown incredible form in pre-season.
Pedro Neto could be a victim of the competition, as Manchester City are weighing a move for him at £70 million, but Chelsea still have a strong array of options on the flanks.
Therefore, it’s no surprise that reports have surfaced regarding interest from other clubs in signing Mudryk. Even Coventry City, managed by Frank Lampard, is monitoring the situation.
However, reports from France suggest that Mudryk will be moving to Strasbourg. Foot Mercato states that the Ukrainian will join the club on loan this summer.
This would be a significant opportunity for the Ligue 1 side, as the BlueCo consortium plans to use their subsidiary club to help Mudryk regain his best form. His contract runs until June 2031.
But the Londoners are making a mistake for two reasons. First, any Chelsea player sent on loan to Strasbourg rarely returns successfully. Examples include Mamadou Sarr, Aaron Anselmini, and David Fofana. Goalkeeper Mike Penders is a rare success story.
The second reason is that if Mudryk wants to succeed at Chelsea, a loan to an English club would provide him with the best chances. He needs to shine right in front of the Londoners' eyes.
A loan to a team like Coventry, where the player would regularly start in the Premier League, appears to be a better option. The Ukrainian international needs game time, and the opportunity to show Chelsea fans what he is capable of would suit everyone.
Even if head coach Xabi Alonso is impressed by Mudryk, it would be a huge risk to rely on a player worth over £90 million after such a long absence.
The only realistic option is to send the winger out on loan to restore his match fitness. Reports suggest that Mudryk has asked Chelsea to make a decision on his future by mid-August.
At this point, the club is assessing the player. Mudryk has travelled to Hong Kong to join the Londoners on their pre-season tour.
However, when the hierarchy inevitably decides that the Ukrainian needs to go out on loan for game time, they would be better off selecting a team from the Premier League.
