Chelsea are doing so well at the moment that it’s tricky for the rumour writers to come up with convincing rumours about the Blues spending big to add new players to their squad.
Instead they have started to focus on players who might leave, and one name that keeps cropping up is Mykhailo Mudryk. The Ukraine winger may get a start tonight in a rotated team to face Southampton – but given Joao Felix, Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke and a few others are waiting for a turn, he also may not.
That’s basically why he’s being constantly linked away – there’s just not enough minutes to go around, even with Chelsea competing on multiple fronts at the moment.
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A group photo of Chelsea celebrating a goal at Leicester. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
Filip Jorgensen gets congratulations from Enzo Maresca. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
Mykhailo Mudryk lashes the ball in against Heidenheim.
But despite chatter earlier in the week linking him with a move to Europe, and further talk today of a move to Newcastle, insiders continue to insist he’s going nowhere.
Ben Jacobs is well connected at Chelsea, ad Tweeted that there is “no chance” the winger leaves mid-season.
Mykhailo Mudryk is not available for a loan (or sale) in January. No chance he leaves mid-season. Chelsea continue to back Mudryk and are not exploring any kind of exit.🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/tkAESwoDyx
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) December 2, 2024
Mykhailo Mudryk runs the touchline against Gent. Mykhailo Mudryk runs the touchline against Gent. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Mykhailo Mudryk runs the touchline against Gent. Mykhailo Mudryk runs the touchline against Gent. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Mudryk future remains in question despite claims to the contrary
No matter what Jacobs and other insiders say, and no matter what message the club put out, there’s just no way around the fact that having an £88m asset sitting on the bench is bad business.
We never thought that a mid season move sounded likely, but it’s notable that Jacobs denies only that, rather than a move at all.
If Mudryk still isn’t playing much come the summer, surely his future will be seriously in question at that point – he will likely be pushing at that point, if nothing else. Who might want to take him, and what terms they would offer, is a whole different question.