It’s been a transfer story that has rumbled on in the background for months, but Mykhaylo Mudryk could finally get his wish and become an Arsenal player in January.
The Gunners are said to have first opened dialogue with the player’s camp in the summer, with Mikel Arteta keen on replacing Nicolas Pepe, who joined OGC Nice on loan. However, injuries to Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny at the time soon meant focus turned elsewhere.
Since then, Mudryk has continued to show why he is one of the most exciting and highly-rated youngsters in the game, stealing the show on the Champions League stage and proving to be Shakhtar Donetsk’s star man.
READ MORE: Arsenal transfer target Mykhaylo Mudryk spotted in Dubai amid transfer talk
Mudryk has scored 10 goals and provided eight assists in 18 appearances this season, and with Gabriel Jesus potentially out for up to three months following successful knee surgery, it appears Arsenal are ready to go all-in for the winger.
The Athletic reported this week that the Ukrainian international is the club’s priority target this winter, with talks continuing between club and player representatives. Shakhtar Donetsk are said to be asking for £85million, although it’s believed a deal could be struck for a lower fee.
The 21-year-old has been quite vocal about the transfer links and confirmed his openness to joining the Gunners on several occasions, including in an interview with Oleksandr Zinchenko’s wife, Vlada Sedan. So, football.london has decided to round up all of Mudryk’s Arsenal-related quotes as talks intensify ahead of January.
“I think every player dreams of the Premier League. It’s hard to say but Arsenal is a very good team, very good coach. I like the way they play. From my side I can’t say no (to Arsenal) but a transfer is not just up to my decision.” - Mudryk to CBS Sports Golazo in September.
“Yeah. I check on them in ‘myscore’ and know when they’re playing I can check on them. I also watch them too. (Arsenal are) a very dynamic side, in general not just in controlling possession but also in scoring goals.” - Mudryk to Vlada in November when asked if he follows Arsenal closely.
“From a purely theoretical, fantasy perspective, if there was the option of being a bench player for Real Madrid or a starter for Arsenal, I’d probably choose Arsenal. It’s a tough question and involves a lot of factors in my answer.” - Mudryk to Vlada.
“One surprise for me was how many Arsenal fans followed me. No other club’s fans have interacted as much as them. Telling me that they are waiting for me, saying ‘Come to us’. One of my recent posts has over 500 comments saying that.” - Mudryk to Vlada.
“Yeah, it does.” - Mudryk to Vlada when asked if the prospect of playing alongside Oleksandr Zinchenko encourages him.
There is clearly still work to be done if Edu is to secure the signature of the Shakhtar Donetsk star, but Mudryk himself has already indicated a desire to move to the Emirates Stadium, potentially strengthening Arsenal's position.
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