CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs has said that Arsenal could bring in Mykhaylo Mudryk for £56m, despite recent reports suggesting he has a much higher asking price.
According to The Athletic, Mudryk has an £88m price tag slapped on him by his current employers, Shakhtar Donetsk.
The same source suggests that Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United are also interested in the 21-year-old gem.
Brentford had a £26m bid rejected in the summer for the youngster dubbed the ‘Ukrainian Messi’, but Fabrizio Romano has suggested that the Gunners have had ‘very positive’ discussions with the player’s representatives.
Furthermore, the eight-cap ace has fuelled speculation by refusing to rule out a move to the Emirates Stadium – and Jacobs has claimed that he could be available for a much lower sum.
He told GiveMeSport: “There is some gamesmanship going on here. Publicly, Shakhtar are starting to say €100m, but privately, I’m told by sources at the club that €60-65m is a viable number that they might consider selling Mudryk for.
“That’s good news from Arsenal and other suitors’ perspectives that his price has risen, but not quite to €100m – at least not privately, despite what Shakhtar may say in public.
“We wait and see whether clubs feel that is market value or whether they try and play hardball. If they do leave it until the summer, there’s a chance that the price will go down a little bit further.”
TIF Thoughts on Mudryk to Arsenal…
Would you want Arsenal to break the bank for Mykhailo Mudryk?
Yes
No
With a lack of established options out wide beyond Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, Mudryk could well be the difference between a successful second half of the campaign and a disappointing one for Mikel Arteta’s side.
He burst onto the scene last season and was directly involved in nine goals in 629 league minutes for Shakhtar, and has maintained that level of form this term, bringing it into Europe with three goals and two assists in six Champions League appearances.
Hailed as a “very special talent” by presenter Joe Flemons, Edu and co would be as well to act sooner rather than later despite Jacobs’ claims that his price may drop at the end of the season.