Shakhtar Donetsk will demand at least £88 million to part ways with Arsenal and Newcastle United target Mykhaylo Mudryk.
According to Adam Crafton of The Athletic, Shakhtar Donetsk are set to demand £88 million to let Mykhaylo Mudryk depart the club. Arsenal and Newcastle United remain interested, but the price tag may prove too high for those clubs to compete for the Ukrainian attacker.
Mykhaylo Mudryk is highly rated among those controlling the corridors at Shakhtar Donetsk. The view from the Ukrainian club is that the 21-year-old winger is one of the best young talents in Europe. Hence they have every right to demand top dollar.
Premier League sides Brentford and Everton showcased an interest in the winger late in the summer. Despite decent offers, Shakhtar stuck to their asking price, which was then a reported £50 million. That price also put Arsenal off the pursuit, although the Gunners switched their attention towards a new midfielder around that time.
The Gunners are back in the hunt for Mudryk and could make a move in January. Mikel Arteta remains keen on bringing in a new wide attacker to fuel a possible title charge after the World Cup. There is a visible shortage of players in those areas, as Arsenal rely heavily on Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
They remain linked with plenty of names. Mudryk seems their primary target, for his style, would suit Arteta’s system. However, Shakhtar are set to demand at least £88 million, which could blow the Gunners out of the water. The north Londoners could continue to test the water with an approach.
Arsenal were reportedly planning a huge bid which may not be enough. Shakhtar’s director of football, Darijo Srna, was recently quoted saying Mudryk was worth the money they demanded. He compared the recent high-profile transfer of Antony and Jadon Sancho as a reference point.
Srna said, “If somebody wants to buy Mudryk, they must pay huge, huge, huge money. Otherwise, the President of the club (Rinat Akhmetov) will not sell him. All the clubs must respect the President, respect Shakhtar and in the end, they must respect Mykhaylo Mudryk, who is one of the best players I saw. The price is so big.”
At that rate, only a handful of clubs can compete financially to secure Mudryk. Newcastle United are another one of those clubs keen on the winger in January, as Eddie Howe remains interested in a wide attacker.
The idea is to continue their push for a top-four place or even a probable title challenge if results continue to go their way. A player like Mudryk would vitalise their levels and improve their chances vastly. While Newcastle have the financial muscle to make a deal, they might not pay over the odds, especially in January.
Considering Mudryk’s overall exposure and experience, the £88 million valuation seems absurd. However, in the past, clubs have overpaid for a player’s talent, which could be the case in January. But Arsenal may not be willing to go beyond a certain number for the 21-year-old winger, and Newcastle might have a similar stance.
Newcastle can afford him, but will they be willing to pay? So far, Newcastle have avoided that kind of massive spending. They have bought quality players at market prices or below since the Saudis bought the team and Eddie Howe became manager. There are more proven players available for a lot less.
Arsenal cannot afford to pay $88 million for a wing playerthey do not actually need. Who will he replace? Bukayo Saka? Gabriel Martinelli? The young Ukranian has five goals and six assists for Shaktar Donetsk in a third-tier league. It is unlikely he’d produce similar numbers in Red and White. Arsenal have Emile Smith Rowe on the wing as well, along with Jeff Reiss Nelson and Marquinos. Signing Mykhaylo Mudryk means one or perhaps two of those players will have no realistic route to first team football anytime soon.
Of course, if Arsenal were to sell Smith Rowe, Nicholas Pepe, Marquinos, and Jess Reiss Nelson, they might get enough of a return ($60 million) to make a run at Mykhaylo Mudryk less of a gamble. It is fair to say, however, Arsenal’s record of buying big money players is not good. They paid a lot of Aubameyang and he left after a bitter dispute that probably cost Arsenal top four last season. Nicholas Pepe was a record signing, and despite outperforming Saka on a goals per minute played basis, found himself behing the young English winger. Alexandre Lacazette was signed for a lot and left on a free, and of course the embarrasing Mesut Ozil saga should be a cautionary tale for Gunners fans looking for a big money signing.
Arebal have done a lot better with players signed in the $20-$35 million range. So far, Gabriel Jesus, who signed for $50+ pmillion is being lauded, as is Ben White; but Ben White has already lost his starting spot at center back (he plays at right back in place of Tomiyasu, who seems to be injured a lot) and while Jesus is a massive force for Arsenal, his recent goal drought has been noticed. How long will his struggles in front of goal have to go on before the notoriously fickle Arsenal fans turn on him?