Shakhtar Donetsk director Darijo Srna insists that Arsenal and Newcastle United target Mykhaylo Mudryk will only be sold for ‘huge, huge, huge money’, telling The Athletic that there is little to separate the Ukraine international and Premier League winner Jack Grealish.
Over the last year-and-a-half, the likes of Grealish, Antony and Jadon Sancho have moved clubs for colossal transfer fees.
And Shakhtar are using this as a benchmark as interest in ‘the most fashionable young player in Eastern Europe’ rises following a series of exhilarating performances on the Champions League stage.
Arsenal will need to pay club-record fee for Shakhtar Donetsk star Mykhaylo Mudryk
“If someone wants to buy the Mudryk, they have to pay huge, huge, huge money. Otherwise, the president of the club will not sell him,” says Croatia legend Srna, who dubs the 21-year-old Europe’s third-best left-winger behind only Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe.
“All clubs must respect the president, respect Shakhtar. And, in the end, respect Mykhailo Mudryk, who is one of the best players I have seen. That’s why the price is so high.
“Antony and Grealish are players with a price of more than 100 million euros. In my opinion, Mudryk is no less a quality player than they are. And there was the transfer of Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United.
“These are the latest transfers in more or less the same positions. We only want respect. The market determines the price, not me. It shows which players are worth such money.”
According to i News, Newcastle United are weighing up a potential £50 million bid for Mudryk. After Srna’s comments, however, the Magpies may have no choice but to return to the drawing board, with fees in excess of £85 million only likely to be considered.
“Every week, some club appears and begins to realise what level we are at. They don’t come in and say; ‘Okay, take 50 million’. They understand that he is quite an expensive player,” adds general director Serhiy Palkin.
“In any case, the time will come (for Mudryk to go). Of course, there will be a big club that will give us 100 million euros.
“Mudryk is a talent in the process of development. What he shows today is only 60 per cent of what he can do in the future. And when you multiply that, you realise that he is worth much, much more. So, I believe that he can definitely be worth around 100 million euros in the future.
“Five or six clubs in the world can afford such a transfer. But sometimes even some Premier League clubs can surprise you, not just the usual ‘top six’ clubs.”
Mudryk’s representatives have held talks with Premier League leaders Arsenal in recent times, with the player himself indicating that he would choose the Gunners over the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City and Bayern Munich.
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