Well, it looks like Arsenal are set to win the race to sign Mykhaylo Mudryk.
According to The Mirror on Saturday night, the Ukrainian sensation will be going to the Emirates Stadim in 2023 ahead of what promises to be a big-money move.
But how big are we talking?
Well, this is where it gets a little complicated.
A Ukraine-based journalist revealed this week that the 21-year-old has a £130 million release clause in his contract at Shakhtar Donetsk [as covered by HITC Sport], which seems extraordinarily high for a player on very few peoples’ radar prior to 2022.
But journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed that Shakhtar are guilty of ‘gamesmanship’ with regards to his price tag, arguing that Arsenal could pay around £56 million for the player.
He told Give Me Sport: “There is some gamesmanship going on here. Publicly, Shakhtar are starting to say €100million but, privately, I’m told by sources at the club that €60-65million is a viable number that they might consider selling Mudryk for.
“That’s good news from Arsenal and other suitors’ perspective that his price has risen but not quite to €100million, at least not privately despite what Shakhtar may say in public.”
Even if it’s £56 million, what a bargain this could be for Arsenal.
The youngster has 18 goal involvements in 18 games across all competitions this season but, crucially, he has also dazzled in the Champions League.
That’s important because if he was only terrorising teams from Ukraine every week then that’d be one thing, but impressing on a European stage highlights his pedigree and who knows, that £56 million could be considered a snip within a few years.
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