Mykhaylo Mudryk has “already” signed for Arsenal, according to one of his Shakhtar Donestk teammates.
He hasn’t actually – no deal has been agreed – but goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin says it’s now accepted in the dressing room that the teenager will be joining the Gunners.
“I like that he is focused only on himself, his and the team’s game,” Trubin said. “Fans don’t really see that much. No one sees what he is doing away from the football field.
“All these transfer rumours affect him only in a positive way, because he enjoys what he does. And, in the team, we can tell him; ‘well, you’re already at Arsenal, let’s all go!’”
Mudryk has captured the attention of many a top European club this season with his stunning displays for Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League this term.
Arsenal were rumoured to have made a £30m bid for Mudryk at the end of the summer which was turned down by the Ukrainian side, and will now have to pay nearly three times that amount, according to Shakhtar director Carlo Nicolini.
“The headlights are on him, but I say that the Italians always come later,” Nicolini told Calciomercato. “Now it is easy to observe him, but it was possible to do it before. The Italians bring low proposals, we don’t even sit down to negotiate.
“There are many English candidates, there is the Spanish on duty, the French on duty, but now it takes the right amount to take him away. Together with [Kylian] Mbappe, [Rafael] Leao and Vinicius [Junior], Mudryk is the strongest player in that position.
“Oscillating between Arsenal and Manchester City? They are two teams that have taken an interest in the player. But there are also other clubs that can spend right away. Is €40m [£34.7m] enough to buy him? We do not speak to these figures.
“Not even for €50m [£43.3m], we don’t even call the president to communicate the offer. We value Mudryk more than Antony of Manchester United, who cost €100m [£86.7m]. We are not obliged to sell, we do not want to make phenomena.
“We don’t want to shoot figures that aren’t realistic. But in this team, he is the most decisive. If you want to take on certain players who make a difference in the top clubs, you also need the right money.”
READ MORE: Mykhaylo Mudryk would make the impossible improbable for Arsenal in Premier League title race
