John Hartson tells West Ham and Arsenal that transfer target could cost over £50m

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John Hartson has told BT Sport’s coverage of Celtic that Arsenal and West Ham target Mykhaylo Mudryk could cost north of £50m ahead of the January window – after reports of an Everton bid in the summer worth £26million.

Coming into the season, 21-year-old Mudryk had already caught the eye. In his previous 26 Shakhtar appearances, he had had a hand in 11 goals – scoring two and creating nine. This season, though, his form has gone to a new level.

Playing 11 times, the Ukraine international has six goals and seven assists. Five of those 13 goal involvements have come in the Champions League – as he netted another wonderful effort in Glasgow on Tuesday night, against Celtic.

Shakhtar legend Darijo Srna – now sporting director – told CBS in September that Everton did make a £26million bid for Mudryk. But it was rejected. The interest remains in the winger, from a whole host of Premier League clubs.

90Min say Newcastle and one of Hartson’s old teams, West Ham, have been scouting Mudryk. Arsenal, another former side of Hartson, are also keen – as per iNews. Hartson believes that he is worth double Everton’s £26million bid.

“Everton – £26m bid for him. They’ll have to pay double that now, the goals he is scoring in the Champions League. The guy is a magnificent talent. He could do it in the Premier League, every time he had the ball, he made players nervous.”

Hartson: Arsenal and West Ham target Mudryk could cost north of £50m

Mudryk is a wonderful talent. Arguably, showing the kind of potential that suggests he could be one of the best from Ukraine. His form has been immense for Shakhtar – in a side that are below some of their Champions League rivals.

Still only 21, he is relatively inexperienced – but he would have got more games under his belt had it not been for the suspension of Ukranian football. Obviously, the Russian invasion and war with Vladimir Putin has halted football.

But with football back underway, Mudryk is on fire. If clubs are interested, a fee of £52million would be a bargain. That is, given just how good his form has been in Europe this season. Pace, goals, guile, assists – he has got it all.