Chelsea set to 'walk away' from summer transfer talks amid Mykhailo Mudryk reality

Chelsea have already completed their first transfer of the summer window, and Stamford Bridge could soon see its second arrival. Fulham centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo signing on a free deal has meant the Blues have secured themselves depth in a weakened position following Thiago Silva's departure, and ahead of new manager Enzo Maresca's own entrance at the start of July.

Reports have suggested that the club do not have to sell players before the Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) deadline for the 2023/24 period but departures before the start of the new season are nonetheless expected, with as many as 15 stars potentially on the chopping block ahead of their 2024/25 campaign.

To balance their books, the Blues will see departures but they'll also look to get back to their natural spending ways having already spent over £1billion in the two-year period of ownership change.

Here, football.london brings you latest from Stamford Bridge ahead of the summer window opening...

Chelsea 'walk away' from Duran talks

The Blues are reportedly set to 'walk away' from their talks with Aston Villa for striker Jhon Duran, with the 20-year-old's £40m price tag said to be off-putting to Chelsea. It's said that despite discussing personal terms with the youngster, they're ready to look at other targets and have already drawn up a six-name shortlist which could bolster Maresca's attacking ranks.

Ivan Toney of Brentford, Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke and Evan Ferguson of Brighton are three of the names, while Stuttgart frontman Serhou Guirassy, RB Leipzig forward Lois Openda and former Blues star Tammy Abraham are the six said to be in with a chance for a move to Stamford Bridge according to TEAMtalk.

football.london says: It's good to see Chelsea move away from Duran, who in all honesty looked like a far worse asset than almost any of those on that shortlist for £40m. He's had a decent start under Unai Emery at Aston Villa but would need to show more in England in order to be seen as the solution to some of Chelsea's problems over the last few years.

Of the names listed, only three truly catch the eye with Dominic Solanke, Ivan Toney and Serhou Guirassy being the trio that could make a change in Maresca's first season in charge at Stamford Bridge. The former two of the three already have a lot of Premier League experience, something the young team the Italian in inheriting is in desperate need of.

But Guirassy does add that unknown spark, having netted 30 goals in 30 appearances in all competitions for the Bundesliga outfit last season. Solanke being the priority target wouldn't surprise me after his stellar season under Andoni Iraola down south and bringing him back to Chelsea would be a popular move in my eyes.

A return for Abraham should be written off immediately, with moves for Ferguson and Openda not at all convincing.

Mudryk future in doubt

Mykhailo Mudryk's future at Chelsea is reportedly in 'serious doubt' according to Football Insider as the arrival of Enzo Maresca piles pressure onto the 23-year-old.

His £88.5m price tag is yet to be fulfilled since he joined in January last year and with the Blues' constant chase for Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, his minutes could be heavily diminished with the amount of stars they have at their disposal out wide.

There was a marked improvement from the Ukrainian over the 2023/24 campaign under Mauricio Pochettino as he notched seven goals in his second season at Chelsea, but failed to cement his place in the starting XI with 18 of his 41 appearances in all competitions coming from the bench.

football.london says: It'd be disappointing to see Mykhailo Mudryk be cast off without having truly made an impact at Chelsea. Having Olise arrive in the summer could spell the end for his time in west London but with such a raw talent, there's ways of getting the best out of him and it'd be nice to at least see Maresca try before completely cutting him off.

If there's no improvement and a constant spiral into January, then cutting their losses and trying to sell Mudryk might make sense. But for Maresca to simply give up on a player that does have an incredible potential would be a shame.

As someone who has wanted to see the youngster succeed in England after the amount of crass ridicule he's received since his arrival, it feels as though the Ukrainian must get his act together before it's too late and his chance for a career in the world's best league is over.