Fabrizio Romano suggests Arsenal target has sent ‘clear message’ tonight after first Gunners bid

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Arsenal have made their first bid for Mykhaylo Mudryk but Shakhtar Donetsk are still holding out for more money for their star winger.

That’s according to transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano, who claims that Arsenal have submitted their first official offer for Mudryk.

The bid is worth €40million plus €20million in add-ons, which is around £35million plus £17.5million, taking the deal to up to £52.5million.

Yet Shakhtar want ‘way more’ if they are going to sell Mudryk, having publicly indicated that they want around €100million (£88million) for the winger.

Shakhtar keep comparing Mudryk to Antony and Jack Grealish, who did move for around that price.

Arsenal are nowhere near that price tag at the moment but talks are expected to continue as the Gunners chase a major deal.

Mudryk has signalled his intentions, posting a photo to Instagram of himself watching Arsenal against West Ham United, as posted by Romano.

Romano noted that the post is a ‘clear message’ that Mudryk wants to join Arsenal despite their first offer not being enough.

Mudryk surely heading for Arsenal in January

There will now be a feeling that Arsenal will eventually get this deal done.

Mudryk wants the move to Arsenal and personal terms won’t be a problem; the only hurdle to clear is Shakhtar.

We understand Shakhtar’s position. They don’t have a player like Mudryk emerging every year and when somebody of his talent does come through, they will want huge money.

Mudryk has excelled in the Champions League this season and Shakhtar understandably want huge money for a player of that ilk.

Their record signing to date is Fred after Manchester United paid £52million rising to £61million in 2018.

Arsenal’s total offer for Mudryk doesn’t break that record and that may well need to structure a deal above £61million to convince Shakhtar to sell.

That’s a huge price to pay but if Arsenal want Mudryk, they will need to go higher and higher.

The deal surely won’t reach £88million but Shakhtar are looking to extract as much cash from this deal as possible, leaving Edu and Mikel Arteta with work to do in the days to come.