Arsenal confident of signing ‘excellent’ top target under full asking price

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Arsenal are now confident that Shakhtar Donetsk will cave in and sell Mykhaylo Mudryk for less than their asking price. The Ukraine ace is Mikel Arteta’s top transfer target in January.

That is according to ESPN, which reports Arsenal are determined to get Mudryk to improve Arteta’s offensive weaponry. But Shakhtar Donetsk are frustrating the north London outfit by asking for €100m (£88m). The Miners’ valuation is seen as the ‘big problem’ for Arsenal.

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Shakhtar Donetsk are also very reluctant to lose the 21-year-old in January and would like him to stay until, at least, the summer. Their stance and a mammoth asking price marking a potential club record fee for the Gunners are making any mid-season move problematic.

Arsenal are confident that Shakhtar Donetsk will sanction a transfer for Mudryk

Yet Arsenal are confident that Shakhtar Donetsk will accept a lesser sum as Mudryk is open to the transfer. Arteta is keen to welcome the eight-cap international to north London over the next month. But he is loath to shatter the £72m fee Unai Emery spent on Nicolas Pepe.

Pepe joined the Emirates Stadium natives in 2019 yet failed to justify his price tag over the next three years. Now, he is on loan to OGC Nice, yet only hit four goals and an assist in 12 Ligue 1 games before the World Cup. He also scored two in the Europa Conference League.

Arteta will hope Mudryk is not Pepe 2.0 in north London at the price quoted

Arsenal will be fearful of splashing a new record sum on Mudryk’s transfer only to see him flop upon leaving Shakhtar Donetsk. But the Ukraine winger is attracting admirers with his efforts in the Premier Liga and Champions League. He has also impressed with his country.

Mudryk has 10 goals and eight assists so far this season over 18 appearances for Shakhtar Donetsk across all competitions. He struck home three and created a further two goals in six Champions League group stage ties. Two of those goals in Europe came against Celtic.

Rangers hero Kris Boyd is smitten with the skill Mudryk has shown in the UEFA tournament and in Ukraine, though. He recently said on Sky Sports News that ‘he will cost an absolute fortune’ and that he has been ‘excellent’ for his club and country since debuting this June.