Arsenal are said to be "confident" of beating London rivals Chelsea to securing a deal for Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk in the January transfer window. It comes as the two clubs battle it out for the signature of the 22-year-old, who has impressed since the start of the season.
The Gunners were linked with a switch late in the summer window, but missed out as the forward went on to show exactly what they missed out on with some impressive displays in the Champions League. It's been enough to convince the recruitment team to make another move and football.london understands opening bids in the January window have been made, but subsequently rejected.
While Mudryk has dropped plenty of hints over wanting a switch to the Emirates Stadium, Shakhtar chief Darijo Srna was pictured at Stamford Bridge ahead of talks with the Blues for a move instead. While that was the case, Mikel Arteta dropped a huge first hint that a deal could come soon.
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“I don’t know. Obviously, valuations have to be made between the selling club and the buying club," said Arteta when asked whether other clubs have made it tougher to sign players. “It is difficult but as well, it shows a lot of clubs with a lot of financial power to spend big amounts and we have to compete with them.
“We have to be smart, we have to see for good opportunities as well. We have to be attractive for players," He said before adding a hint on Mudryk, saying: "At the end players decide where they want to play, and if they want to play for our club, this is great."
It's that sort of player power that has seen the Gunners miss out on the likes of Dusan Vlahovic and Raphinha in the past year, but this time it could work in their favour. That could be part of the reason Fabrizio Romano reports in his Caught Offside column that there is confidence a deal for Mudryk will happen in January.
“Of course Arsenal are confident, and Arteta too,” Romano said. “But reaching an agreement with Shakhtar is crucial, they were so strong in negotiations also in August when they turned down €30million from Everton when it sounded like a great bid. No deadlines have been mentioned in the negotiations, as of now; talks continue.”
With plenty of twists and turns left in the January window, it remains to be seen what could come next from the Mudryk transfer saga.
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