Arsenal and Mykhaylo Mudryk have agreed terms, with just the fee to be decided for Mikel Arteta's first January signing
(Image credit: Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Arsenal target Mykhaylo Mudryk has agreed to join on a five-year deal.
That's according to reports that say that the Ukrainian, who is by far and away the Gunners' No.1 priority this window, is desperate to move to north London. Chelsea are apparently also interested but remain firmly second in the race for his signature.
Mudryk has been linked with a move to the Premier League since last summer and could have joined Arsenal towards the end of that window – now, it's looking likely that he joins just three months later, with just one final detail to sort.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has eyed Mykhaylo Mudryk since before the season began (Image credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
It's a big detail, however. Arsenal and Shakhtar Donetsk are yet to agree on a fee for the starlet, with a chasm between the pair's valuation.
Though The Times say that personal terms are no problem for the Gunners when it comes to the Mudryk transfer, Goal says the 22-year-old's employers are demanding as much as an eye-watering £88 million for his signature. Arsenal have already had a £55m bid turned down, according to the Express, with the Sun saying a £62m bid is imminent.
Arsenal are now in a position in which Mudryk could force through the move. There have been no reports so far that the player himself has asked to leave, despite the apparent readiness he has to go to the current league leaders.
Shakhtar seem unwilling to budge on their asking price otherwise – especially midseason. Arsenal, meanwhile, have not reportedly reignited their interest with any other historic transfer targets, such as Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Pedro Neto, who was also in the crosshairs over the summer.
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Arsenal seemed to have abandoned interest in players like Pedro Neto to secure Mudryk instead (Image credit: Jack Thomas - WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images)
Emirates Stadium sporting director Edu Gaspar has shown in the past over deals for the likes of Houssem Aouar, Douglas Luiz and James Maddison that he is unwilling to compromise on the Gunners' valuation of a player, preferring to miss out on certain targets than overpay.
The question will be whether the club would rather shell out on a player who could be key in the run-in for a title. Transfermarkt states that Mudryk is worth around €40m, having signed a contract as recently as last year.
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
