Fabrizio Romano has shared on his YouTube channel what Shakhtar Donetsk told Mykhailo Mudryk about moves to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and Graham Potter’s Chelsea in the January transfer window.
The Italian journalist has said that Shakhtar told Mudryk that if he did not accept Chelsea and Arsenal did not increase their offer for him, then he would have to stay at the Ukrainian Premier League club until the summer of 2023.
The 22-year-old winger did not want to do that and has decided to move to Chelsea, according to Romano.
Shakhtar have released a statement saying that they are close to agreeing a fee with Chelsea over Mudryk.
Sky Sports have reported that Chelsea will pay £62 million upfront and £26.5 million in add-ons.
Arsenal did not want to match that sum.
What Shakhtar Donetsk told Mykhailo Mudryk about Arsenal and Chelsea
Romano said: “Shakhtar told the player if you don’t accept Chelsea and Arsenal don’t match the bid, the only way for you is to stay here and move in the summer.
“So, Mudryk, instead of staying at Shakhtar six more months, he decided to accept Chelsea because he knew that Arsenal were only offering what they did as their best.”
Should Mudryk have waited?
Mykhailo Mudryk had been hinting on social media that he wanted to join Arsenal in the January transfer window.
If the winger were that keen on a switch to the Gunners, then he could have waited for another six months.
The summer transfer window is much longer than the January transfer window, and Arsenal would have had more time to negotiate and probably more money to spend if they win the Premier League title this season.
A potential problem would have been Arsenal moving on from Mudryk next summer.
After all, the Gunners want to sign a winger now.
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