Mykhailo Mudryk looks on
Mykhailo Mudryk looks on
Before his ban, Mykhailo Mudryk was not exactly pulling up trees at Chelsea.
Chelsea signed the winger from Shakhtar Donetsk in a deal worth up to £89m, but he has not lived up to the price tag.
The bonuses that will take the initial £62m fee that Chelsea paid for his services are unlikely to be triggered any time soon after his two-year absence from the game. But £62m is still a lot of money.
Whatever the case, Chelsea fans are still delighted to see Mudryk have his doping ban lifted. It had to be very tough for the 25-year-old. What do the club do with him now, though?
One thing is certain: Mudryk has to play regularly in the new season after missing so much football. That is unlikely to happen at Chelsea, who have Morgan Rogers and Jamie Gittens for the left flank. Therefore, a loan deal would probably be the best solution.
In terms of the ideal destination, the decision-makers at Stamford Bridge must be thinking about Strasbourg.
They are Chelsea’s sister club playing in one of Europe’s top leagues. It could be the perfect environment for Mudryk to rebuild his career, while it will also be easy for the Blues to keep track of him.
Mykhailo Mudryk of Chelsea looks on
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Again, ideally, you want Mudryk back on the pitch. But staying at Chelsea, training alongside elite players and working under a brilliant coach like Xabi Alonso could also have its benefits.
Mudryk is travelling to Hong Kong to link up with the rest of the Chelsea squad. Hopefully we get to see him earn some minutes and put a blue shirt on once again.
Going forward, though, a loan move to Strasbourg or another club would probably be best for the Ukraine international. The Mudryk comeback is finally underway, but patience is going to be needed after such a long absence away from the pitch.