(Credit: Imago)

Ben Palmer

Mon 24 March 2025 20:30, UK

Chelsea continue to chase a new winger as a priority this summer amid differing situations involving current wide men Jadon Sancho and Myhailo Mudryk.

Sancho enjoyed a blistering start to life at Chelsea, having joined the club on-loan in the summer, with the Blues having an obligatory purchase option included in the deal.

However, after a less then impressive post-Christmas period, a penalty fee has emerged in the deal, allowing Chelsea to pay just £5million to cancel the loan and purchase option.

Meanwhile, Mudryk has been out since failing a drugs test and is awaiting the results of his B-sample, after the banned substance meldonium was found in his A-sample

Both player’s situation are complex and in a new report from The Athletic, Chelsea’s transfer plans have been revealed.

Chelsea continue priority pursuit of winger after Mykhailo Mudryk positive doping test

Chelsea are still prioritising signing a right-footed winger this summer, having pursued Man United’s Alejandro Garnacho and Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens in January.

In spite of suggestions the Blues may look to cancel Sancho’s loan, there is no indication yet that they plan to do so.

The on-loan winger’s performances may have dipped, but his professionalism and committed approach in training reportedly continue to impress behind the scenes.

Chelsea are expected to assess Sancho’s situation at the end of the season and their pursuit of a new winger is not contingent on the England international’s future at the club.

Instead, the ongoing unavailability of Mudryk is what is most likely to force the Blues into the transfer market for a replacement this summer, with another move for Gittens or Garnacho being considered.

Chelsea need to find leaders to guide young stars joining in the summer

Football Insider Verdict

When Thomas Tuchel‘s first England squad was announced, the decision to include Jordan Henderson was met with widespread derision.

The midfielder will turn 36-years-old in the first week of the 2026 World Cup and has spent the past few years playing in the Saudi Pro League and the Eredivisie, what is the German manager thinking?

Tuchel is a Champions League winning manager and knows better than most the importance of leadership in football.

Henderson, having captained Liverpool, has that in abundance and whilst he may not be a game-changer on the pitch, he certainly is one off it.

Having started brightly, only to trail off at the mid-point of the season, it begs the question of whether Chelsea could do with a leader of their own?

Tosin Adarabioyo has stepped up in that regard since joining the Blues, but in terms of a player who’s played at the highest level and won it all, the West London side are missing that.

With a young squad, that is about to get a lot younger when Kendry Paez, Estevao Willian and Geovany Quenda, perhaps a player who can lead those players through experience should be added to the transfer wishlist.