Mykhaylo Mudryk has attracted 'indirect interest' from a host of clubs - but Shakhtar Donetsk have yet to receive an offer for the Newcastle United target.
Shakhtar believe there is a 50-50 chance that Mudryk stays or goes next month after a number of Premier League clubs made fresh contact following the forward's superb performances in the Champions League group stages. League leaders Arsenal are the favourites to land the Ukraine superstar if he is to get the move he desires to England at some point in 2023.
Mudryk certainly won't come cheap. Although Shakhtar's €100m (£88m) demands will be tested, the Ukrainian giants are adamant that Mudryk is worth more than the £86m Manchester United paid Ajax for Antony last summer.
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It is hard to see Newcastle joining the bidding at that price, particularly with record signing Alexander Isak still to come back, as the club look to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations. Indeed, it was rather telling that Eddie Howe, himself, quipped earlier this week that the transfer fee for Benfica star Enzo Fernandez might be 'quite lumpy' following the midfielder's stunning performances at the World Cup for Argentina.
However, Newcastle have monitored Mudryk at the very least and the Magpies will surely note Shakhtar deputy sporting director Carlo Nicolini's latest comments.
"Many clubs have taken an indirect interest in Mudryk without an official offer," he told TV Play. "There have been a lot of phone calls.
"I believe that today the Italian teams find it difficult to take a profile like this, both for what it is worth and for the lack of courage in investing in such a profile."
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