Alonso Delivers Update On Mudryk & Jackson's Chelsea Futures Amid Spurs Interest | OneFootball

Mykhailo Mudryk has been a surprise return for Chelsea this summer. Video Credit: Absolute Chelsea

Xabi Alonso has offered an update on the futures of Mykhailo Mudryk and Nicolas Jackson, with the Senegal international attracting interest.

Several players have joined the Chelsea squad for the pre-season in Asia, including Jackson and Mykhailo Mudryk.

Jackson arrived in Australia towards the end of last week following his involvement at the World Cup, but had to miss out on the 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday as he had only just re-joined the squad and wasn't ready to be included in the matchday selection.

Mudryk, on the other hand, is among several players who joined the squad in Hong Kong.

The Ukraine international was cleared to return to playing with immediate effect after his doping case was resolved.

Alonso confirmed that Mudryk is in contention to make his first appearance since November 2024 in Wednesday’s pre-season friendly against Juventus.

“We are thrilled Misha could be with us. You could see his smile, the great feeling for him to be back,” said the Chelsea manager in a press conference on Tuesday.

“Fitness level, we will see. He has been working hard. Now it's about trying to do things with his teammates.

Mudryk has started to reintegrate with his teammates - some familiar faces and some new faces. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

“Yesterday was more about the feelings and emotions, (rather) than to assess fitness level.

“But yes, he could play. Ninety minutes (would be) too early. He can be selected, he can play."

However, Alonso clarified that the club have yet to make a decision on the winger’s future.

“No decision made,” he responded when asked about Mudryk’s future. Everything has happened so quickly. We need to be sensitive (of the situation)."

While there is a possibility of Mudryk making Chelsea’s first-team squad for the new season, he has been linked with several clubs, including a loan move to sister club Strasbourg.

Summer exit could be on the table for Jackson, too

Similarly, Alonso made it clear that Jackson, who spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich, is a welcome addition to his pre-season squad.

“Nico is a great player, a threat against any defence, so we want players that can compete,” Alonso explained.

With Joao Pedro being Chelsea’s first-choice striker and Danny Welbeck recently joining from Brighton to provide some cover and experience, there may be no room for Jackson in the team.

Emmanuel Emegha, Liam Delap and Marc Guiu also remain as striker options for Alonso.

Chelsea could decide to offload the Senegal international this summer, and reports suggest he has already had some potential suitors.

According to the Daily Mail, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Jackson, whom Chelsea value at £65 million.

Alonso has many decisions to make about the futures of Chelsea players. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

However, Tottenham are understood to have yet to make any formal approach to Chelsea for a deal that would be a rare occurrence between the two rival clubs.

Jackson made 34 appearances across all competitions for Bayern Munich last season, in which he bagged 11 goals and four assists.

The 25-year-old did not make enough appearances for the German club to trigger the €65m obligation-to-buy clause in his loan deal.

He shares some similarities with Joao Pedro as a number nine who likes to drift wide to the left to find space.

While on paper, he would make a good back-up to Joao Pedro, it makes financial sense if Chelsea decide to cash in on the striker this summer.

Jackson is under contract with Chelsea until the summer of 2033, having signed a contract extension two years ago.