Arsenal have been warned that “many clubs” are in the race to sign Mykhaylo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk in January or next summer.
The Gunners are said to have identified Mudryk as their ‘priority target’ ahead of the January transfer window.
The Ukrainian is still quite inexperienced but he has been in sensational form for Shakhtar this season.
The winger was one of the standout players in the Champions League group stages as he was involved in five goals in six games.
Mudryk could have joined Everton for just €30m in the summer but he will cost a lot more than that if anyone is going to get him in January.
Arsenal are in the market for a winger as they look to bolster their attacking options for the final few months of the 2022/23 campaign.
CBS Sports’ Ben Jacobs has reported that bids of around €60m will be ‘entertained’ by Shakhtar. This is even with the club having the stance in public that €100m offers are required.
The journalist has also reported that Mikel Arteta thinks he can develop Mudryk into a “more versatile player”.
“Arteta feels that he can be developed into a more versatile player,” Jacobs said.
“At the moment he’s lightning quick, he’s got a good eye for goal, he weighs in with assists, he makes the pitch as big as possible, he starts on the left-hand side and he cuts in.
“I think Mikel Arteta thinks that he can spend more time during games in central areas and, even under select game management situations, switch sides as well.”
Now Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Sergei Palkin has spoken about their chances of selling Mudryk.
He thinks Mudryk has just a “50-50” chance of leaving in January.
“To be honest, I do not know,” Palkin told The Athletic when asked if Mudryk will leave in January.
“At the moment, we are quite far from what we want and what clubs propose.
“It’s not so far but it is not what we need. We have discussions. One club, another club, they negotiate. We are in the process. Will it close this month? I don’t know.
“It is maybe 50-50 with regards to the winter transfer window. I don’t want to talk about figures now. We are in discussions. We have interest from some English clubs and we are in the process.”
Palkin added: “Every day, I read about another English club.
“If you believe the newspapers, it is all of (the English clubs). But to be honest, it is true as I have had contact from many clubs. A lot of them are involved in this process.”
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