Chelsea want to get rid of several fringe players in the January transfer window and sources have revealed to TEAMtalk that Mykhailo Mudryk could leave.

The Ukrainian winger has struggled to get consistent playing time since his £88.5m (including add-ons) move to Stamford Bridge from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Mudryk, 23, has so far failed to settle into new manager Enzo Maresca’s system. The Italian coach has been clear that he has work to do if he is to become a regular in the starting XI.

TEAMtalk understands that this has left the winger desperate to move elsewhere to get more consistent playing time and a solution could be sought in January.

Chelsea are understood to be open to offloading Mudryk in the window, with sources describing a move away from the club as “very possible.”

There is interest in Mudryk from the Premier League and around Europe. Bayern Munich, for example, pushed to sign him on loan in January of this year.

Bayern are still looking at Mudryk but their interest has diminished now that Thomas Tuchel has left the German giants and Vincent Kompany took the reins.

Sources have told TEAMtalk that there is interest in Mudryk from French side Marseille. Their manager Roberto de Zerbi is a big fan of the winger and believes he can get the best out of him.

A loan move is the most likely outcome for Mudryk in January as clubs are not usually keen to splash out big sums mid-season.

In any case, Chelsea are unlikely to recoup the £88.5m fee they paid to sign Mudryk in January 2023 as things stand. A successful loan spell could be the best opportunity for his valuation to rise again.

Marseille have brought in the likes of Mason Greenwood, Neal Maupay, Elye Wahi and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg as they look to build a squad capable of beating Paris Saint-Germain to the Ligue 1 title.

Mudryk could help Marseille win silverware if he can rediscover the form he showed previously with Shakhtar.

For now though, he is on the books at Chelsea and will need to try and get some games under his belt in a bid to impress Maresca or attract more suitors.

Real Madrid are considering making a move for Chelsea skipper Reece James, who has been struggling with injuries of late.

According to a report from HITC, Real Madrid will look to reinforce their backline over the next few transfer windows, and Chelsea’s Reece James is one of the names on their wishlist. Los Blancos are considering making a move for the Blues’ skipper. But he will have to prove his fitness if he wants to join the Spanish giants.

While the team in white have one of the best squads in Europe, they are always on the lookout for players who can further bolster their team. Having already signed some of the best forwards and midfielders in recent years, the Spanish giants will focus on reinforcing their defence in the near future.

The reigning La Liga champions are keen on signing a new left-back, a world-class centre-back and are also considering making a move for a new right-back, with Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez both on the wrong side of 30. Reece James is one of the first names on their shortlist to bolster their right flank.

While Carvajal is still at the peak of his powers, Real Madrid want someone who can replace him in the long run, and they feel James could be an ideal fit for their system. The Merengues have been monitoring him for a long while and believe he has all the attributes to succeed at Madrid.

Fluid logo

James will have to prove his fitness
Reece James has been a long-term target for the Spanish giants. But they might not even bother making a move for the crisis-struck Chelsea star at this point in time because of his fitness concerns. While he has been handed the armband at his childhood club, the 24-year-old full-back last featured in 15 league games back in 2022.

Last season, James was involved in just 11 first-team games because of injuries, and the English international is yet to make an appearance this term as he is still out with a thigh injury. Enzo Maresca recently suggested that James is not yet close to returning.

Once back fit, he will have to prove his fitness over the course of the season for Los Blancos to seriously consider making a move for him. If he fails to remain fit for an extended period of time, the Spanish giants could look at other targets, including Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Erling Haaland has been urged to leave Manchester City and join Real Madrid, as the Premier League side’s hearing into alleged financial breaches continues.

The champions are currently on day three of their hearing into 115 alleged breaches of the top-flight’s financial rules between 2009 and 2018.

While the club strongly deny all charges against them, the punishment could be unlimited if they are found guilty – including a possible points deduction, fines or even expulsion from the Premier League altogether. On the pitch it’s business as usual for City, who find themselves top of the division with four wins from their opening four games.

That is in no small part down to the form of Haaland, who already has nine goals for the season. The Norwegian is under contract at the Etihad until 2027, but that hasn’t stopped Real Madrid legend Guti urging his former side to make a move for the star.

“I would bring Haaland to Real Madrid,” Guti said on Monday. “He’s been outstanding for a few years now and I just hope he’s Florentino’s [Pérez] next target. It would be very good for our football.”

It is not the first time Guti has clamoured for Madrid to sign the Norwegian striker. He made an argument for the Spanish team to go for Haaland before his move from Dortmund to City. Speaking back in May 2022, Guti claimed that if Madrid didn’t pull the trigger and claim the young striker now, then they “never will”.

At the time, Guti said: “Vinicius, Benzema, Haaland, and Mbappe can play together. If you can have Haaland and Mbappe at Real Madrid, it’s a leap in quality. There is no need to doubt. Real Madrid must do everything they can to sign both Mbappe and Haaland. If they don’t sign Haaland now, they never will.”

Two years on, Mbappe has transferred for free from Paris Saint-Germain to Real, and Haaland is still loving life in Manchester – but would he consider a move? While the Norwegian has committed to the Etihad until 2027, he hasn’t yet ruled out a move elsewhere in the future.

Back in May this year, Haaland said: “I’m really happy, especially with the people that I’m surrounded with – the manager, the directors, the board, they are a group of amazing people and I’m really happy, I have to say.

“If I say this now it’s probably going to be a massive headline – tomorrow you never know what the future brings. But I’m happy. You can write this but you also have to write everything I said before! I’m happy.”