Surprise Premier League club emerge as frontrunners to sign Mykhailo Mudryk from Chelsea

Mykhailo Mudryk could leave Chelsea to join another Premier League club before the end of the summer transfer window.

Mudryk was permitted to return to football with immediate effect at the end of July, having been suspended since he failed a drugs test in December 2024.

He tested positive for the banned substance meldonium, with the Ukraine winger initially banned for a period of four years.

Mudryk launched an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which was 'resolved' last month.

The FA stated that changes to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) procedures since Mudryk's failed test meant that, had the sample been collected today, the concentration of meldonium would not have been reported and he would not have broken any anti-doping rules.

READ MORE: Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk cleared to return to football as FA issue statement

He made his comeback for Chelsea as an 82nd-minute substitute in their 1-0 friendly defeat to Juventus on August 5, and has made two further cameos since then.

The 25-year-old was not, however, named in the matchday squad for Saturday's 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge.

According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea are willing to loan Mudryk out this summer but do not want to sanction a permanent exit, as they still see his long-term future at Stamford Bridge.

It is claimed that manager Xabi Alonso sees him as a player who is able to make an impact this season at Stamford Bridge, but someone who would not receive regular minutes at this stage in his comeback.

A move to a fellow Premier League club is said to be the 'preferred' route, though overseas options will be considered if he is unable to find a club in England.

However, newly-promoted Coventry City are said to be 'serious contenders' to sign Mudryk on loan, with Chelsea said to be impressed by the style of football employed under Sky Blues boss Frank Lampard.

Coventry won the Championship by 11 points last season and have made some impressive signings on their return to play in the English top flight for the first time in 2001.

Goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, who spent last season on loan at the Ricoh Arena, signed a permanent deal worth a club-record fee of £22.5 million - a figure eclipsed days later following the £23.1 million arrival of young midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi from Nordsjaelland.

And popular midfielder Gustavo Hamer has made his return to the club, three years after leaving to sign for Sheffield United.

TEAMtalk suggest that Coventry are now 'pushing' to sign Mudryk on loan, with Chelsea believing the move 'could provide Mudryk with the right environment to regain his form while playing consistently'.

'We know now it's a necessity...' - Lampard on Coventry's summer business

Lampard has given relatively little away this summer when it comes to speaking to the press - even at local level - but did give an interview to BBC Sport on Tuesday about Coventry's Premier League ambitions.

"I love the squad that got us to the Premier League. They fully deserve it, and they were great for us last season," Lampard said.

"But, of course, we know we want to improve, so we brought in some players who we think will help the squad. We've had a good pre-season. The players are working very hard.

"We've been given a massive challenge of the champions [playing Arsenal, away] on day one, and that's no problem. You have to play them, so we have to be ready for that game.

"Credit to the owner, to Doug [King]. He gave me my opportunity at the club, and we've had a great 18 months.

"I think we know now it's a necessity to improve your squad if you come up, and looking at the market now, we all know where it's going, especially at the top end. So it's not easy.

"We are ambitious. We want to stay here. The size of the club, as it is, deserves to be a Premier League club, in my opinion. But when you've been 25 years out of it, that's easier said than done. We have to do the work on the pitch."