Arsenal are holding firm over their valuation of Shakhtar Donetsk attacker Mykhaylo Mudryk. His club wish to use the prices attached to Jack Grealish and Antony to ramp up their income when he is sold but Edu isn't willing to play by these rules.
The Gunners have pursued the 22-year-old since the summer but have been met by a bullish response and a swift rejection of their offers. The first, worth a total of £55million, came well short of director Darijo Srna's value. The second bid is believed to be around £62million, still falling short of the £88million they want.
As much as Mudryk is doing his bit to demonstrate his desire to move to London via social media posts, it isn't making things any easier for Arsenal. They are also facing competition now with Chelsea breathing down their necks.
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The Blues are waiting to see how things unfold this month and have made it clear to Shakhtar that they are willing to sign the player if Arsenal don't. Backed by American businessman Todd Boehly, the Blues are set for a busy window with several big money moves in the pipeline and may well be willing to pay whatever it takes.
Arsenal aren't set to go head-to-head with their rivals though and won't go outside their comfort zone to secure Mudryk, even if it means Chelsea have a better chance to sign him. According to the Times the Gunners aren't interested in paying over the odds for the sake of getting it across the line.
They paid £72million for Nicholas Pepe and have felt the repercussions for that. The strategy has changed though, and Edu is leading a recruitment drive based around younger players. Mudryk fits that bill but isn't coming cheap.
If the Ukraine star doesn't move to the Emirates Stadium this summer then Joao Felix is a player that they could turn to instead. He is available on loan due to a strained relationship with manager Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid. Chelsea and Manchester United are also interested in bringing the Portugal attacker in but have so far been put off by his large loan fee, especially just for six months of football.
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