Arsenal are set to win the race for Mykhaylo Mudryk, dubbed 'the Ukrainian Neymar' with Shakhtar Donetsk lowering their demands significantly
(Image credit: Berengui/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Arsenal are set to win the race for Shakhtar Donetsk wide man Mykhaylo Mudryk.
The Gunners have been linked with the star since the summer, choosing not to swoop for the 21-year-old back then, who has been compared to the likes of Neymar for his directness, creativity and ability to combine with team-mates.
Mudryk has since scored three goals in the Champions League for the Ukrainian side and whispers that he could move to the Premier League have only intensified. While speaking to Vlada Sedan, the wife of Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko, Mudryk admitted that Arsenal fans are telling him to come to the club on social media.
Arsenal are top of the league but still looking to strengthen for the second half of the season (Image credit: Getty Images)
Now, it looks like Arsenal have won the race for the player – and not for the price they thought they'd have to pay.
The Mirror reports that the Gunners were originally quoted upwards of £80 million for Mudryk but Shakhtar have since lowered their demands by half. Manager Mikel Arteta has been looking for cover in attack with few options beyond his first-choice wingers of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, both at the World Cup with their respective nations.
The news of Shakhtar lowering their asking price to just £40m will come as music to the ears of the Gunners – but also to Mudryk himself, who admitted he couldn't believe he was worth so much.
"When I found out about my price, I wasn't just surprised – I was shocked," Mudryk told Sport Arena.
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"I have a long-term contract with Shakhtar, I give all my strength and energy so that Shakhtar achieves maximum results, but every football player has a dream to play in a top club and in a top championship - I am no exception.
Mykhaylo Mudryk has ambitions of competing in Europe's top five leagues (Image credit: Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
"But I am 100 per cent sure that they are unlikely to buy a player from the championship of Ukraine for €100m. I will not hide that I was very upset. The amount of €100m puts a barrier for my transition to the top championship, which I so dreamed of. I can't say that my dream was killed, but wounded – that's for sure."
Mudryk is only valued at around €15m by Transfermarkt.
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.
