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By Martin Graham | 11th Jan 2023
Multiple sources are now claiming that Arsenal and Shakhtar Donetsk have progressed in talks over the transfer of 21-year-old Mykhaylo Mudryk to the Emirates.
The Gunners look set to start their January on a good note after having two of their initial bids for their key attacking target rejected by the Ukrainian giants. It looked even scarier as their London rivals Chelsea were reported by multiple sources to have entered and progressed in discussions to hijack the transfer.
Now, it looks like Arsenal are back in the lead for Mudryk, whose feelings of wanting to turn out for Arsenal are well known. The youngster, who has seven goals and seven assists for Shakhtar in just 12 appearances for the Ukrainian champions is valued at over £80 million, thanks to Manchester United and their signing of Brazilian Antony from Ajax.
But according to Sport Arena’s Yehor Danylov, as well as Foot Mercato’s Santi Aouna, Arsenal have made progress with Shakhtar and only have the bonuses left to be finalised.
Danylov wrote: “The clubs are close to agreeing on the full amount of the transfer, which includes the base payment and bonuses.
“The parties are discussing the ratio of guaranteed payment and bonuses for the Ukrainian football player. The London club wants bonuses to be at least 30% of the entire fee. Shakhtar wants bonuses to be a maximum of 20%.”
Arsenal are in dire need of attacking reinforcements for a packed schedule which will see them compete at least twice a week until the end of February.
It comes after the Gunners missed out on Joao Felix, who is now nearing a move to Chelsea on a six-month loan deal. It now means the Gunners will need to be proactive in their January transfer dealings so they don’t end up missing on other targets. Arsenal’s transfer priority has always been Mudryk but the coming days will now show how serious the Gunners are in their supposed interest.
Arsenal picked off from where they left off as they recently dispatched Oxford United in the FA Cup thanks to goals from Mohamed Elneny and Eddie Nketiah, whose brace showed that he is good enough to lead the line in place of the injured Gabriel Jesus.
If all things move well, Mudryk could be available for their next FA Cup tie or perhaps the coming Premier League games to come.
Martin Graham is an MFF sports writer
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