Arsenal's pursuit of reinforcements ahead of the January transfer window has seen links with Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk resurface.
In fact, during the summer, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed that the Gunners had 'explored' the possibility of getting a deal done for the Ukraine international before deadline day, but as things turned out a move failed to materialise. Not that the forward's form has been affected, as he's netted 11 times in 19 appearances across all competition so far this season.
That in addition to Mudryk's eight assists would make him the ideal Arsenal signing next month and recent reports claim he is a priority for the club as manager Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his attacking options in light of losing star striker Gabriel Jesus to a knee injury.
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Should Arsenal's plan to drive down Shakhtar's asking price of which was previously €100million (£87million) to around £40million prove successful then all that would be left is for Mudryk to reach an agreement regarding personal terms, pass a medical and then sign his contract before the window closes at the end of January.
In the scenario that this deal does get completed before or on January 31, how would the winger's arrival affect the north London outfit in terms of bringing in more players amid links to Joao Felix, Matheus Cunha and Youri Tielemans, whilst adhering to the Premier League rules?
Well, the Gunners, along with the other 19 Premier League teams, will be permitted to name 25-man squads after the January transfer window shuts - from which no more than 17 overseas players can be named - with the remaining eight places available to homegrown members of the squad.
To be considered homegrown, players need to have been registered with any club affiliated to The Football Association or the Welsh FA for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons, or 36 months, before his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21).
As things stand, the Arsenal senior players who have been included in this particular list are Ben White, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Rob Holding, Matt Smith, Aaron Ramsdale and Reiss Nelson.
And the good news is that if Mudryk does complete a move to the Emirates Stadium in the next month, he won't be taking up a non-homegrown spot. This is because, as per Premier League rules: "An Under 21 player is defined as one who is under the age of 21 on 1st January in the year in which the season commences.
"Under-21 players are eligible over and above the limit of 25 players per squad. For the 2022/23 campaign, Under-21 players will have been born on or after 1 January 2001." As Mudryk is born after January 1, 2001 - by four days - it means he can be registered as an Under-21 player who is eligible for the remainder of the season, alongside Karl Hein, William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Marquinhos.
In addition, following the departures of Nicolas Pepe, Bernd Leno, Pablo Mari, Nuno Tavares and Lucas Torreira in the summer, the Gunners' squad now contains 14 players who are classed as non-homegrown, therefore they can still register up to three overseas players next month as the limit is 17, with Mudryk's potential move having no impact on any further deals.
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