David Ornstein has disclosed on BBC Radio 5 live (7:28pm, January 20, 2023) a factor why Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal could not sign Mykhailo Mudryk ahead of Graham Potter’s Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in the January transfer window.
The Athletic journalist has claimed how Chelsea’s payment structure was different to that proposed by Arsenal to Shakhtar.
As reported by The Athletic, Chelsea paid Shakhtar £88..7 million in transfer fees for Mudryk.
Arsenal had been in talks with Shakhtar for the 22-year-old for weeks, according to the report.
The Ukraine international winger signed an eight-and-a-half year contract with Chelsea.
David Ornstein on Arsenal target Mykhailo Mudryk after Chelsea move
Ornstein said: “Actually, with Chelsea I understand, it’s spread over four years, the payments, whereas with Arsenal, they were proposing five, which might have been a factor in Shakhtar’s decision, which is a bit of information that has not come out until now.”
It will be interesting to see what happens with Mykhailo Mudryk and Chelsea in the coming months and years, and whether Arsenal will regret not signing the Ukrainian.
That Arsenal held talks over Mudryk shows that they were really keen on the winger.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be disappointed that he has not been able to sign Mudryk, even though he has brought Belgium international winger Leandro Trossard from Brighton and Hove Albion.
Chelsea are a massive club who want to win all the time, but Mudryk will be given time and afforded patience.
The winger is still only 22, so if he does not start his Chelsea career strongly, then we should not judge him straightaway.
Everyone has to be patient with Mudryk.
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