'Chelsea fear Mykhailo Mudryk blow' after Jadon Sancho twist

03/28/2025 05:00 PM

Chelsea could soon have a decision to make over the future of Mykhailo Mudryk after he failed a drugs test last year. 

The 24-year-old has been unable to play for Chelsea since the beginning of December following his suspension.

Mudryk could be facing a lengthy ban if he fails to prove his innocence despite insisting the "adverse finding" in a urine test came as a "complete shock" to him.

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba was handed a four-year doping ban last year before his suspension was later reduced to 18 months on appeal. 

The Mudryk uncertainty comes at a time when Chelsea are deciding whether to sign Jadon Sancho permanently once his loan deal comes to an end this summer. 

Chelsea can pay a £5million fee to avoid signing Sancho despite the club agreeing a £25million obligation to buy with Man United last summer.

Everton's former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – insisted the Mudryk situation will be playing a part in the London giants' decision-making in terms of signing Sancho. 

Chelsea signed Mudryk on an eight-and-a-half-year contract from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023, with the deal worth an initial £62million and potentially rising to £89million in add-ons. 

Chelsea costs rising after Mykhailo Mudryk blow

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted the Mudryk issue is starting to become costly as his future at Stamford Bridge hangs in the balance.

He told Football Insider's Inside Track podcast: "I haven’t heard of a break clause about getting away from signing a player.

"I think it was £25million to sign Sancho and £5million to break that £25million obligation. Certainly, it’s a new twist on things.

"I do think Chelsea are going to go ahead and sign him, though. I think that’s what they will do. 

"I think this is actually as a result of the Mudryk problem that they inherited from when he started with the substance abuse issue that I think is present with the Chelsea player, or at least the wrong substance in his system, from what I understand.

"That was one of their big investments. He was the headline investment at one time, so Sancho is supposed to be a replacement for that.

"That’s just showing how costly this whole particular issue is becoming. If you add Mudryk's fee and another £25million for Sancho, that becomes a big number.

"Now, if it’s just the £5million and they don’t want to sign him, then fair enough. That’s just the cost of doing business and they have got the option to take that chance." 

Man United would accept £70m offer for Chelsea target

Former Old Trafford chief scout Mick Brown told Football InsiderMan United would prefer to sell Kobbie Mainoo abroad after Chelsea have expressed an interest in signing him.

However, the Manchester giants are likely to sell to the highest bidder to raise funds following their financial concerns. 

United will accept a £70million offer for Mainoo after he's been linked with several clubs over the past few months.

The 19-year-old has registered one goal and one assist in 25 appearances this season, but he's been out of action since early February through injury.

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