Chelsea make official bid for exciting Mudryk replacement

Chelsea have made a formal bid for Deportivo la Coruna winger Yeremay Hernandez, according to Spanish media.

Last week, reports surfaced from Spain claiming that Chelsea have identified Spanish youth international Hernandez as an option on the wing. The 22-year-old is enjoying a brilliant season for second-tier Deportivo la Coruna and has attracted the attention of the Blues and other top clubs.

French media later confirmed Chelsea’s interest in the left-winger and added the important detail that he would initially be a signing for BlueCo affiliate Strasbourg, who are said to be the real driving force behind the interest.

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The idea would be for Chelsea to sign Hernandez and then loan him to the Ligue 1 side, though they would first have to recall one of their three Strasbourg loanees, likely Caleb Wiley, who is recovering from shoulder surgery.

Hernandez has a €20 million release clause and Deportivo director Massimo Benassi insists that suitors will have to match this fee. Nevertheless, Chelsea have now launched an official bid below that figure.

Chelsea make Hernandez bid

At least that is according to MARCA, which claims Chelsea’s opening offer for Hernandez clocks in at just €10m plus potential bonuses. Chelsea have also shown a willingness to hand the Spanish side a sell-on percentage and even to potentially swap players.

However, it is claimed that this initial offer has been deemed ‘insufficient’ and it is unclear whether Chelsea will return with a new bid. The interest in a winger for the future is interesting, though.

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Chelsea are likely scouring the market for a long-term replacement for Mykhailo Mudryk, who is still awaiting the results of his B sample following his provisional doping ban.

Even before his ban, Mudryk failed to live up to his €100m price tag and it appears to be only a matter of time before Chelsea move on from the Ukraine international.