Frank Lampard ready to use Chelsea links to seal Mudryk loan exit

Frank Lampard is ready to lean on his Chelsea connections to give Mykhailo Mudryk a path back to regular first-team football, with Coventry City among the clubs that have approached Chelsea over a summer loan. Mudryk has not featured in a competitive match since November 2024 after testing positive for meldonium. His four-year ban has officially been cut short, and he was cleared to play last week. The Ukrainian forward has spent the months since training alone, but he has now traveled to Hong Kong to join Chelsea for the rest of their preseason tour. He could make his first appearance for the club in more than 20 months in friendlies against Juventus, AC Milan or Johor Darul Ta'zim. Chelsea has already signed Morgan Rogers and Geovany Quenda to boost its forward options this summer, with Estevao Willian, Pedro Neto and Jamie Gittens also in the squad. That depth means Mudryk is unlikely to be a major part of the team this season. Chelsea is therefore keen to send him out on a season-long loan so he can play regularly, rebuild his form and eventually be reintegrated at Stamford Bridge. Several clubs across Europe have made contact over a potential deal, including three Premier League sides. Frank Lampard's Coventry City is one of them. Lampard coached Mudryk during his short spell as Chelsea interim boss in 2022-23 and is eager to reunite with him, according to media and The media. Coventry has signed Loum Tchaouna, Aurele Amenda and Frank Onyeka this summer ahead of their first Premier League season since 2000-01. A move for Mudryk would give Lampard another option in attack, with the winger competing with Ephron Mason-Clark for a starting place at CBS Arena. Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said the club was delighted by the news and is ready to support Mudryk through his return. "To be honest, we were not expecting to have this great news at this moment, so we are very happy. We feel that he will be working with us," Alonso told reporters. He recalled watching Mudryk at Shakhtar and described him as a special player, but added: "He will take time for sure." On whether Mudryk stays or leaves on loan, Alonso said: "We need to see. It's too early to tell. He is coming to Hong Kong, but I haven't spoken to him yet."