Shakhtar boss sends West Ham and Leicester a £25m Mykola Matviyenko warning

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Shakhtar Donetsk director wants around £25 million for Mykola Matviyenko with Premier League trio West Ham United, Leicester City and Brighton and Hove Albion setting their sights on the Ukraine international, speaking via SportArena.

Make no mistake, Srna is usually as good as his word.

Some might have scoffed at the Croatia legend’s suggestion that Mykhaylo Mudryk would not be going anywhere for less than 100 million euros. That was, of course, until Chelsea completed a club-record deal for arguably the most coveted talent in Eastern Europe, Shakhtar rejecting a £60 million bid from Arsenal along the way (Standard). 

So when Srna says that Matviyenko is valued in the £25 million bracket, this should be seen as a warning for West Ham and co. Either pay up or give up.  

Will Mykola Mativyenko follow Chelsea’s Mykhaylo Mudryk to the Premier League?

“Matviyenko is a very important footballer for Shakhtar and the Ukrainian national team. A very experienced player. There are few such footballers in Europe,” Srna says of the versatile defender, capped over 50 times for his country.

“Therefore, if any club wants to sign Matviyenko, it will be the same story as with Mykhailo Mudryk. I estimate him at 30 million (euros). This is my personal opinion.” 

According to 90Min, Mykolenko has admirers at West Ham, Brentford and Leicester City. The Hammers are on the lookout for left-sided defenders; the ageing Aaron Cresswell no longer the swashbuckling, assist-wielding force of old.  

Brighton came closest to signing the two-time Ukrainian Premier League winner in January, however. The Seagulls saw bids of £10 and £14 million rejected (Daily Mail). 

“By January 20^th,” Srna adds. “It was clear that Brighton would no longer raise the price.”

Matviyenko, who can play as centre-half and at left-back, is a long-term target for West Ham.

“Of course, I have ambitions and dreams to play in the top leagues; England or Italy,” Matviyenko said back in 2021 when first linked with the Hammers. 

“But Shakhtar is also a top club. If I don’t have the opportunity to move somewhere, I’m ready to play my whole life at Shakhtar. This is a great club.”