According to latest reports, Arsenal have stepped up their pursuit of Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk. Earlier, the Gunners held positive talks with the player’s representatives, but were reluctant to make a move due to the unusually high price tag. However, the situation now seems to have changed.
Mykhaylo Mudryk is enjoying an impressive start to the 2022-23 season. In 18 games so far, the Ukrainian winger has 10 goals and 8 assists against his name (stats via Transfermarkt). This includes 3 goals and 2 assists in the Champions League.
The North London side are eyeing a winger in the upcoming winter transfer window to provide some cover for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. With Emile Smith Rowe’s injury struggles, the Gunners find themselves lacking quality in depth for many positions.
According to CBS journalist Ben Jacobs (via Give Me Sport), Shakhtar Donetsk forward Mykhaylo Mudryk is amongst the leading candidates on the January shopping list at Arsenal. The report states that the London club are looking to make a winter swoop for the 21-year-old wonderkid.
However, the Gunners are likely to face competition from fellow Premier League clubs as well as other top European sides. Newcastle United, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have all been credited with interest for the Ukrainian youngster.
Meanwhile, The Mirror reported that Arsenal have ramped up their effort in the pursuit of Mykhaylo Mudryk and are set to win the race for the winger. The North London side have already structured a deal as per Shakhtar’s demands after the Ukrainian club lowered their asking price to around £40m.
🚨 Arsenal set to win race for top transfer target Mykhaylo Mudryk in £40million deal.
[Mirror] pic.twitter.com/RAVaHWQrWc
— TroopzTV (@TheRealTroopzTV) November 26, 2022
The Gunners were monitoring the 21-year-old in the summer transfer window itself. The club were said to have held “positive talks” for the Ukrainian winger, as per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano (via The Sun). However, an asking price of £45 million stalled any transfer from materialising. On his YouTube channel, Romano said:
“We know they (Arsenal) wanted a winger. Raphinha was the dream, but it was not possible to proceed.”
“They have had very positive contacts on Mudryk on the player’s side, but then they decided not to proceed with Shakhtar because they wanted more than £40m to £45m.”
However, as a result of Mudryk’s good form, Shakhtar Donetsk further raised his price tag to around £90million. The situation now have changed with the Primera Liga side willing to accept a fee of around £40m plus potential add-ons.
Moreover, the presence of fellow Ukrainian teammate Oleksandr Zinchenko at the Emirates will certainly work in Arsenal’s favour. Mykhaylo Mudryk has also endorsed a move to Arsenal earlier this year:
“I think every guy dreams about the Premier League. It’s hard to say [who his preferred move is], but Arsenal is a very good team, very good coach, I like the way they play.”
“From my side, I can’t say no [to Arsenal]. But the transfer is not only my decision.”
🚨 Mykhaylo Mudryk has confirmed he could not say no to Arsenal and he's spoken with Ukraine teammate Oleksandr Zinchenko
(@JacobsBen) pic.twitter.com/fYh2nvXhWd
— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) November 28, 2022
Read More:
- Arsenal to Battle Arch-Rivals Tottenham for the Signature of €45m Rated Ligue 1 Striker
- Arsenal Working on Deal to Sign €30m Rated Bundesliga Forward, Face Competition From Multiple Clubs
- Arsenal Looking for Clubs to Send Brazilian Winger on Loan This January
The Gunners have also lined up Villarreal ace Yeremy Pino and Palmeiras midfielder Danilo as transfer targets. With Arsenal also targeting players to bolster their midfield and add quality to other positions, a move for Mudryk in the winter window seems highly unlikely.
However, if the Ukrainian forward continues to improve at an exponential rate, Technical Director Edu could seriously consider splashing big money on the 21-year-old.
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