Arsenal are still in negotiations to add Shakhtar Donetsk and Ukraine winger Mykhaylo Mudryk to Mikel Arteta’s squad at the Emirates Stadium, but a deal is not “at the final stages” yet, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has told GiveMeSport.
The Gunners have been linked to a move for the eight-cap winger since the last summer transfer window.
Arsenal transfer news – Mykhaylo Mudryk
According to Romano, Arsenal submitted a third bid for Mudryk on Thursday evening, with the winger desiring to make the move to the Emirates this month.
Meanwhile, CBS reporter Ben Jacobs has been told that promising talks have taken place between both Arsenal and Shakhtar this week, whilst Chelsea, who are also rumoured to be interested in a deal for the 22-year-old, have not made a bid as of yet.
As per the Daily Mail, Arteta’s side have seen two offers worth £52m and £62m rejected for Mudryk’s services at the time of writing, with the Ukrainian giants initially demanding a fee close to £88m in November.
Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth recently told GiveMeSport that the main sticking point in two clubs’ negotiations for Mudryk – who has been branded as “absolutely unreal” by presenter Jack Collins – is how a deal for the winger would be structured.
And Romano has stated that he doesn’t want to “kill the dreams of Arsenal fans” as he reveals a deal for Mudryk is not imminent at the time of writing.
What has Romano said about Arsenal and Mudryk?
Romano told GiveMeSport: “I see this kind of rumour every day, so I don't want to kill the dreams of Arsenal fans, because they are in negotiations for Mudryk. But while we're speaking, this is not something that is at the final stages. We can’t say that it is almost done at the moment.”
What next in Arsenal’s negotiations for Mudryk?
With their second offer of £62m having been rejected, it looks like Arsenal will have to bid closer to the initial demand of £88m to secure Mudryk’s services this month.
The Gunners have been interested in snapping up the signing of the coveted talent for many months now but Gabriel Jesus’ long absence on the sidelines following a knee injury suffered at the World Cup has now heightened the need for the club to make another forward recruitment.
Having provided a total of 18 goal contributions across the same amount of fixtures from the left-wing this season, the Krasnograd-born star is likely to be an ideal fit in Arteta’s front-three system with his versatility potentially becoming a very handy asset for the head coach.
Therefore, Edu’s hand may be forced to offer Shakhtar a transfer fee similar to their initial valuation of the Ukrainian superstar, as the Premier League leaders look to keep their title challenge on track heading into the second half of the season.
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