'Definitely won't go to Brentford': £20m star says he's rejected Bees move

Brentford want Mykhaylo Mudryk but the Shakhtar Donetsk winger admits he’s turned down a move to the Premier League in favour of Bayer Leverkusen, speaking to Ukrainian publication Sport Arena.

With survival confirmed, Thomas Frank and co are free to focus on the upcoming summer transfer window as they look to avoid the dreaded ‘second season syndrome’.

And Mudryk, a 21-year-old winger who’s contributed nine assists in 19 games this term, held talks over a move to West London in April (Sky Sports).

Shakhtar are demanding a fee in the region of £20 million, one that would see the highly-rated Ukrainian replace Kristoffer Ajer as most expensive player in Brentford’s history.

But, breaking his silence over the weekend, Mudryk has left no one in any doubt as to how he feels about a big-money move to the Bees.

Brentford miss out on Mykhaylo Mudryk

“With all due respect, I will definitely not go to Brentford,” says the youngster.

“It is a mid-table Premier League club that don’t play European football. And, for me, the most important thing is to play in the Champions League.

“We thanked Brentford for the offer, but we withdrew from negotiations a long time ago.”

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If Mudryk is determined to play Champions League football, it makes sense that Bayer Leverkusen would hold plenty of appeal. The Bundesliga giants have already reserved a seat at Europe’s top table. Leverkusen are back in the big time after two years in the Europa League.

“I am a Shakhtar player but, if the club accept Bayer’s offer, that would be great,” Mudryk adds. “I have decided for myself that this is the only club I want to move to.”

Mudryk could replace the Premier League-linked Moussa Diaby at the Bay Arena.

Diaby, Leverkusen’s fleet-footed France international, is a target for Arsenal and Newcastle United despite an eye-watering £50 million price-tag.