Kevin Campbell says Chelsea transfer target Mykhailo Mudryk’s possible ‘£88 million’ transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk could prove to be ‘cheap money’ for Arsenal if they win the Premier League title, as he told The Highbury Squad.
The former Arsenal striker added that, even from the bench, Mudryk could prove to be a ‘weapon’ for Mikel Arteta’s side, as he also reacted to claims that Shakhtar’s transfer guru was at Stamford Bridge and he has been ‘talking to’ Chelsea owner, Todd Boehly.
It’s been the long-standing story of the January transfer window, so far – Will Arsenal sign Mudryk? Well, despite Chelsea trying to hijack a deal, it’s north London where the left-sided forward is expected to head.
The 22-year-old is sending out so many hints himself that he wants this move to the Emirates Stadium, that he might as well sit in the stands for their next game wearing the home jersey.
The obvious issue here is whether Arsenal and Mudryk’s parent club can agree on a transfer fee, as soon as that is finalised, then he will be in London, in next to no time.
Campbell shared his thoughts on how Mudryk will be feeling as this deal drags on and the transfer fee that is being attached to his name.
“Frustration for the player,” said Campbell. “You just want it done. But that’s the part of the business that is out of your hands. It’s totally out of your hands and it’s between the two clubs to negotiate a price.
“I believe personal terms are the easy part. The key to it all is, and this is what I said last January, it’s all well saying ‘we want this one and we want that one’. But the two clubs have to agree. Clubs are difficult because they know they can get big money.
“Will they cut their nose to spite their face? Probably not. But they can drag it out. But you think they don’t know that. They are buzzing that Chelsea, the transfer guru of Shakhtar was at Stamford Bridge and talking to Todd Boehly. If there is a deal on the table. Everyone knows Mudryk wants to come to Arsenal. But Shakhtar are playing the game.
On possible £88 million transfer fee for Mudryk: “The type of player you are getting, he’s not old. He is 21. You have another weapon in your armoury. We are the Gunners. If you have got a Mudryk, even for 20 minutes, people are tired. What do you think he’s going to do to fullbacks with his speed? We want game-changers. £88 million is a lot of money, but we have seen him do it in the Champions League, the fact of the matter is, it might be cheap money.
“You bring him in and win the title, then all of a sudden, we have got another weapon. Champion. And we are in the Champions League. Massive for us.”
THE WAIT FOR MUDRYK GOES ON
There would have been some Arsenal fans hoping to get this deal done, so they could unleash their new signing against Tottenham in the north London derby on Sunday.
Well, unless things accelerate like Mudryk on the counter-attack during the next 48 hours, then this deal won’t be done this week.
And in truth, the longer things drag on, the more worried fans will get that a deal won’t happen.
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