Transfer expert Dean Jones has told Give Me Sport that Arsenal will not pay more than £65million for Shakhtar Donetsk wonderkid Mykhaylo Mudryk this month – with the club expected to see a second offer for the player rejected.
Mudryk, 22, has thrown himself onto the radar of Arsenal and Chelsea this month after a wonderful start to the 2022-23 season with Shakhtar. In 18 appearances, he has scored 10 goals and laid on eight assists. Shakhtar want a big fee.
Indeed, the Evening Standard report the Ukranian outfit have rejected an offer of £55million. A second bid is expected to be rejected – worth £60million. Chelsea are keen, with sporting director Darijo Srna at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
Now, Jones has reported the figure to which Arsenal will go to – but will not go beyond. That fee is believed to be a huge £65million. If they cannot strike a deal in that region, then Arsenal will move on to other transfer targets.
“£65m has generally been the figure I’ve been hearing that Arsenal wouldn’t want to be going over. They’re in a situation where they’re being forced to pay over the odds for a player, and they’ve got to be very, very careful here.”
Arsenal will not pay more than £65million for Mudryk this month
There is no doubt that Mudryk would be a wonderful signing, and his activity on social media is a clear sign that he wants to join the Gunners. But is he really worth north of £60million? His form has been superb, but in Ukraine.
The Premier League is an enormous step up. While he has scored in the Champions League, his three goals came against Celtic and RB Leipzig – hardly two of the competition’s best sides. So, Arsenal, as Jones says, have to be careful.
The Gunners have a couple of positions they need to address this summer. It would not take long to scour the market and find a player of Mudryk’s quality, for a smaller amount. Such, would save Arsenal cash to spend elsewhere.
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