Arsenal were turned down by Mykhaylo Mudryk in January 2023 – but could return for the Ukrainian once more
(Image credit: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Arsenal are ready to end Mykhaylo Mudryk's Chelsea hell and bring the speedster from west London to north.
That's according to one report, which has claimed that the Gunners are still interested in the Ukrainian over a year after he rejected them. Mikel Arteta was said to be a big fan of Mudryk during his Shakhtar Donetsk days – but Arsenal were gazumped by rivals Chelsea to his signature.
Shakhtar confirmed upon his sale that Mudryk was purchased for a national record of €70 million, with €30m of add-ons included in the deal when he signed an eight-and-a-half year contract. Yet just 18 months into such a deal, the 23-year-old could be set to leave Stamford Bridge already.
Mykhaylo Mudryk cost €100m, with add-ons included (Image credit: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Now, a report from Fichajes says that despite Mudryk opting for Chelsea in the 11th hour and shunning the Gunners' advances, he could make a big u-turn.
The Blues are said to be hugely disappointed in the star, with Harry Redknapp having revealed that former manager Frank Lampard told him Mudryk, “doesn't know the game.” A loan move has been touted with Juventus another possible destination.
Despite the report, however, Mudryk leaving for Arsenal simply seems preposterous at this stage. The winger has potential to be a star but has not shown it in the Premier League – and for the money that Chelsea paid and the length of his contract, Arsenal would surely have to fork out a lot to bring him to the Emirates Stadium. After missing Mudryk, Arsenal signed Leandro Trossard.
Leandro Trossard signed instead of Mudryk (Image credit: Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Arsenal have plenty of previous in dealing with Chelsea, however, having bought the likes of Jorginho and Kai Havertz – the latter of which, similarly to Mudryk, underwhelmed at Chelsea before being sold on to a club who were originally interested in signing him.
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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.
