Shakthar Donetsk's chief executive Sergei Palkin has launched a scathing attack on Arsenal after their No.1 January transfer target Mykhaylo Mudryk completed a move to rivals Chelsea.
Mudryk, 22, sealed an £89million transfer to the Blues on Sunday after weeks of speculation over his future. Arsenal were believed to be leading the race for the Ukraine international but failed to agree a transfer fee with Shakthar, having two offers rejected - and allowing Chelsea to swoop.
Mudryk dropped several hints that he wanted to join Arsenal on social media, posing in Arsenal shirts and even describing Mikel Arteta as a "top coach". His subsequent decision to join Chelsea has left some fans perplexed, but Palkin has shed some light on the matter.
He claims Arsenal contacted Mudryk in "October or November" before formally contacting Shakthar. He has also revealed the Gunners offered the same amount as Chelsea, but the latter's proposal contained more "achievable and realistic" add-ons.
"[This] is why everybody talked about Arsenal," Palkin said. "It is because Arsenal contacted the player almost one and a half months before they contacted us... Chelsea, they called me at the end of December and asked if they can contact Mudryk."
Palkin claims Arsenal manager Arteta, sporting director Edu and Ukraine teammate Oleksandr Zinchenko called Mudryk "almost every day" to persuade him to come to the Emirates. Shakthar did not make a formal complaint to FIFA about Arsenal's alleged activity.
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In terms of Arsenal's and Chelsea's bids, Palkin has described them as the "same" but "completely different" in terms on the payment structure. For example, there is no Ballon d'Or clause in Chelsea's deal. Palkin told The Athletic : "Chelsea was much more serious and fair in some points."
Palkin held three formal meetings with Arsenal to discuss the transfer - plus telephone calls - and he met more times with the Gunners than Chelsea. The Shakthar chief also claims they were impressed by Todd Boehly's sporting project.
Chelsea chair Boehly has been criticised for splashing the cash since he completed a takeover of the club last summer. The Blues have been the biggest spenders in Europe since and appear to have adopted a scattergun approach, but Palkin doesn't see it this way.
Palkin said: "They invited the player and explained to us the whole project... When they explain to you the whole story and you look for the next two, three, four, five years, then you see they have a serious project.
"I believe they will build one of the best clubs in the world because I am telling you, they are very serious in all directions."
Mudryk's Instagram activity suggested he wanted to join Arsenal, but Palkin insists the player "did not push" for a move. The Shakthar chief did not say whether Mudryk spoke to Potter before signing a contract, but he has confirmed the pair spoke at the weekend.
Palkin has also quashed claims that Shakhtar will be donating a chunk of Mudryk's transfer fee to support Ukraine's defence against Russia's ongoing invasion. In reality, the club's president Rinat Akhmetov will donate his "own money" to a charitable cause.
