Mykhailo Mudryk has made his transfer preference clear after Chelsea reportedly ruled out selling the winger this summer.
Mudryk was unavailable to play for almost two years after he was suspended for returning an ‘adverse finding’ for the banned substance meldonium.
However, the Ukrainian has now been cleared to play again after resolving his doping case with the Football Association.
Mudryk subsequently joined up with Chelsea’s pre-season tour, making three brief cameo appearances off the bench against Juventus, AC Milan and Johor Darul Ta’zim.
Get the latest transfer news every morning
Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won’t be around next season.
However, after nearly two seasons without a first-team appearance, it appears likely that the 25-year-old will go out on loan to get regular minutes and demonstrate his level after such a long lay-off.
Widespread reports indicate that Chelsea are not considering a sale for Mudryk this summer, with several clubs across Europe interested in a loan for the winger.
Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg are interested in a deal for Mudryk after already securing the loan signing of goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen.
But Fabrizio Romano reports that Mudryk would prefer to remain in the Premier League next season if Chelsea do reach an agreement to send him out on loan.
Frank Lampard’s Coventry City have been linked with a move for Mudryk as the former Chelsea boss looks to add firepower to his squad ahead of their Premier League return.
Speaking last week about Mudryk’s Chelsea future, Xabi Alonso said: ‘Everything has happened so quick, so the main thing is thinking about the person, to feel that he was back in the group dynamic, part of a team, and we need to assess [how he is doing].
‘But for sure, he’s a special player. It’s a special case with him, so we need to be sensitive.’
Meanwhile, Chelsea teammate Tosin Adarabioyo was full of praise for Mudryk’s attitude during his 20-month absence, saying of the Ukrainian: ‘Misha is a freak. His work rate is unbelievable. There is no doubt he has been working hard throughout this whole time.
‘I know he has been doing sessions away. I have seen him. I know the guys he has been working with, so it’s good.
‘Misha is my guy. I have kept in contact with him throughout and it is really nice to have him back. I am really happy for him.
‘You can see he is just really happy to be around and back in the environment. It is obviously going to take him some time, but we are all here to support him.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.