Arsenal have reportedly taken a step closer to signing Mykhaylo Mudryk, reaching an “agreement in principle” with the 21-year-old over an imminent January move from Shakhtar Donetsk.
According to The Sun, Arsenal are making rapid progress in their pursuit of 21-year-old Ukraine attacking sensation Mykhaylo Mudryk. And the Premier League leaders have reached an agreement in principle with the playerover a winter swoop, with talks still ongoing between the two clubs.
The Gunners have been big admirers of the Shakhtar Donetsk winger for some time now. And recent reports have claimed that Arsenal have made their first official offer to sign Mudryk. According to Daily Telegraph, they have stumped up a bid worth £55 million, including add-ons.
The Ukrainian outfit had been publicly seeking a figure in the region of £85 million, But there had been an expectation they might be ready to consider less due to their perilous financial situation. It has been claimed that talks on the transfer fee are still ongoing.
Manager Mikel Arteta is keen to strengthen his squad and bring in quality depth in the fast-approaching transfer window as Arsenal look to sustain their title challenge. Following the recent injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Reiss Nelson, sporting director Edu has been tasked with bringing in attacking reinforcements.
Mudryk is thought to be at the very top of Arsenal’s shopping list for the mid-season market. The 21-year-old Ukrainian wing wizard is seen as one of the most exciting young attackers in Europe and has attracted plenty of attention for his stellar performances for club and country across the last 12 months.
The left-winger has ten goals and eight assists to his name from 18 appearances across all competitions, of which three goals and two assists have arrived in six UEFA Champions League outings.
Mudryk is a player Arteta highly admires for his great speed, pace, creativity, and attitude. The player has been open about his desire to join Arsenal and was spotted watching Mikel Arteta’s men thrash West Ham United 3-1 on Monday night in an Instagram post.
Currently, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are the only senior, available wide options left. Meanwhile, Emile Smith Rowe is expected back in January after a lengthy spell on the sidelines following groin surgery. So, Mudryk would provide some much-needed depth in the offensive department.
As things stand, it seems like it is only a matter of when, and not if, Arsenal close the deal for Mudryk early next month. The player is believed to be keen on joining the Gunners’ title push and desperate to make the move happen, although a full agreement is yet to be reached between the two clubs at this stage of proceedings.
