Shakhtar Donetsk's chief executive has confirmed they are willing to sell Mykhailo Mudryk amid serious interest from Arsenal.
The Gunners have seen an opening bid rejected, believed to be worth around £55m, but maintain hopes of adding the winger. The Ukrainian side's CEO Sergei Palkin has reaffirmed that they are open to selling Mudryk provided their valuation is met.
Shakhtar have previously said that they value the winger at £88m - a price they claim is driven by recent deals involving Jack Grealish and Antony. However Arsenal are likely to get Mudryk for less than that price as they continue to negotiate with the north Londoners.
Palkin told Shakhtar’s website: “Negotiations are continuing. We receive offers, but they are not the ones we would like to see on our table. We are open to negotiations, ready to exchange ideas and figures. If we will agree, then let it be so. If we will not, then let it be another time.”
Arsenal are looking to bolster their ranks in the New Year as they hope to seize on their current league position. The Gunners sit top of the Premier League, to the surprise of many, and know that investment will increase their chances of ending a two-decade wait for a league title.
Mikel Arteta has also suffered a serious setback in the form of Gabriel Jesus' injury. The Brazilian, signed from Manchester City in the summer, has led the line since arriving at the Emirates but will be absent for several months as he undergoes surgery. It leaves Eddie Nketiah as the club's only recognised striker.
Mudryk has excelled on the wing, picking up eight caps for his country, and his arrival could free Arteta up to rejig his attacking shape. Gabriel Martinelli, who has been used from a wide position, is capable of playing though the middle.
The Shakhtar star is open to a move away from his homeland and recently posted on social media to show he was watching Arsenal's win over West Ham. Arteta has confessed he would like the club to be swift in conducting their mid-season business, but knows the difficulties of recruiting in January.
He said recently: "We knew the importance of getting players early in the summer and that is the same we want to do in January. This is idealistic. Sometimes it is not realistic. But obviously, if you ask my opinion, as quick as possible we want the players in to get settled."
"Can we afford not getting the player that we want? That is my question. We can afford to get a striker for sure if we want one, I don’t know if he plays in League Two, in League Five, in Spain, in Portugal, in Africa. We can get a striker I can guarantee you that. But what we can not afford to do is get a player here that is not for us. This is what we can not afford, that is for sure."
