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Chelsea hatch Mykhailo Mudryk plan in ‘carefully considered’ roadmap to rescue career
Mykhailo Mudryk‘s career at Chelsea remains in limbo as the Ukrainian winger continues serving a provisional suspension.
The £88.5 million signing last featured for the Blues in November 2024, scoring in a Conference League victory over Heidenheim before disappearing from matchday squads entirely.
The FA formally charged Mudryk in June following confirmation that his ‘B’ sample tested positive for meldonium, a prohibited performance-enhancing substance.
The charge carries potential sanctions ranging from several months to a maximum four-year ban, though significant uncertainty surrounds the case’s resolution timeline.
Mudryk has steadfastly maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal, insisting the positive test came as ‘complete shock’ and that he never knowingly consumed banned substances.
“This has come as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules and am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened,” Mudryk wrote on Instagram last year.
“I know that I have not done anything wrong and remain hopeful that I will be back on the pitch soon.”
Ukrainian journalist Igor Burbas offered an intriguing explanation, suggesting Mudryk received a stem cell injection during national team duty to address discomfort that was limiting his performance.
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It would be a head turner.
According to the report, these stem cells allegedly originated from a cow exposed to meldonium, inadvertently contaminating Mudryk’s sample.
Shakhtar Donetsk chief executive Sergei Palkin recently confirmed Mudryk passed a polygraph test and continues building his defence case, though formal results remain pending.
Palkin revealed substantial financial stakes beyond Mudryk’s career, with Shakhtar potentially forfeiting €30 million in performance-related bonuses if the winger cannot return to action.
Chelsea have provided Mudryk with an individualised fitness programme during his exile from the Cobham training ground, though his number ten shirt was reassigned to Cole Palmer this summer.
The club also signed Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens during his absence, significantly diminishing his prospects of a first-team role under Enzo Maresca, even if the 24-year-old is eventually cleared.
Luckily for Mudryk, the west Londoners apparently have a plan for that scenario.
Chelsea hatch Mykhaylo Mudryk plan in roadmap to rescue his career
According to reports from Spain, Chelsea have devised a ‘carefully considered’ strategy to ‘rescue’ Mudryk’s career following his prolonged doping suspension that has sidelined him for over a year.
The club apparently plan to loan him to sister club Strasbourg, their sister club in Ligue 1, once his ban concludes.
Rather than severing ties with their near-£100 million investment, Chelsea believe a spell in French football offers Mudryk the ideal environment to rebuild both physically and mentally.
The move would also provide fewer eyes compared to the Premier League‘s intense spotlight, allowing Mudryk to rediscover his confidence through regular competitive action.
Stamford Bridge officials view the Strasbourg loan as mutually beneficial for all parties.
Mudryk gains essential playing time in a competitive league without overwhelming pressure, while Strasbourg acquire a player of significant talent, and Chelsea can monitor his development from a safe distance before determining his long-term future.
Contracted until 2031, BlueCo still have plenty of time to weigh up a decision on this, and hope that they can recover at least some of the eye-watering cash they spent on Mudryk in 2023.
