Arsenal have been told that they must “spend a lot” of money to secure the signature of Mykhaylo Mudryk after a failed summer bid.
The Gunners were linked with a move for the exciting Ukrainian winger over the closing days of the transfer window, with Mikel Arteta keen to bolster his wide options following the exit of club record signing Nicolas Pepe.
Arsenal faced competition from Premier League rivals Everton and Brentford - both having also been rumoured to be interested in a move for Mudryk - the Toffees even going as far as lodging a big-money bid with his current employers Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Ukrainian outfit’s sporting director Darijo Srna has now given his say on a potential sale and suggested that any deal would be considerable with the Shakhtar hierarchy adopting a tough stance on Mudryk’s future having compared him to Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe.
Speaking with CBS, the former Croatian international said: "We received an offer of €30 million [from Everton]. And when our president doesn't sell a player for €30million, especially in such difficult times, he is sending a message to everyone that he wants to progress in the Champions League and to win the championship.
"Mudryk is a serious talent. After Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, he's the best player in Europe in his position. If someone wants to buy Mudryk they must spend a lot, a lot, a lot of money and respect our club and our president."
Should Arsenal renew their interest in Mykhaylo Mudryk in January? Share your thoughts in the comments below
It remains to be seen whether Arsenal, or indeed Everton, renew their respective interests in Mudryk in the January transfer window. The 21-year-old has continued his sensational performances this season having scored a goal and notched three assists in four appearances in all competitions.
He still has over four years left to run on his current contract with Shakhtar but has hinted that a move to the Emirates Stadium would be difficult to turn down.
"Arsenal is a very good team with very good coach and I like the way they play,” Mudryk said. "From my side, I can't say no [to Arsenal] but the transfer is not only my decision. It's a lot of people, like the president of Shakhtar and the club.
"Every guy dreams about the Premier League. It's a top league and everyone wants to play in it. But the speculation has passed and I must move forward and focus on Shakhtar and in winter we will see what will happen.
"There was a lot of discussions about a transfer and clubs who want me, but it's normal. Now I am at Shakhtar and I want to play in this team. I love this team. I love every guy in this team. Shakhtar for me is home, but I want to always improve myself and achieve new goals. Now, all my thoughts are only about Shakhtar but in the winter we will see."
