Arsenal completing deal for £40m star 'makes more sense every week' | OneFootball

Icon: GiveMeSport

GiveMeSport

·2 December 2022

Arsenal completing deal for £40m star 'makes more sense every week'

Article image:Arsenal completing deal for £40m star 'makes more sense every week'

Arsenal should look to sign Shakhtar Donetsk star Mykhaylo Mudryk as a move to the Emirates Stadium ‘makes more sense’ every week, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Gunners are currently five points clear at the top of the Premier League table, but boss Mikel Arteta could strengthen his squad when the January window opens for business.


OneFootball Videos


Article image:Arsenal completing deal for £40m star 'makes more sense every week'

Arsenal transfer news – Mykhaylo Mudryk

A report from the Mirror has revealed that Arsenal are in pole position to win the race for Mudryk’s signature and Shakhtar are willing to entertain bids worth £40million plus potential add-ons.

If that is the case, the Ukrainian giants’ financial demands have fallen significantly as The Athletic previously suggested it would take upwards of £86.2million to sign the winger due to gaining additional interest from Manchester City, Newcastle United, Paris Saint-Germain, Brentford, Everton and Bayer Leverkusen.

Mudryk told Ukrainian media outlet Sport Arena that he is ‘shocked’ by Shakhtar’s valuation and fears the lucrative price tag will deter top European clubs from heading to the negotiating table.

In an interview with CBS Sports, the 21-year-old admitted he ‘can’t say no’ to a January switch to the Emirates Stadium, increasing optimism that a mid-season move could be on the cards.

It has emerged, via transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, that Arsenal held ‘very positive contacts’ with Mudryk’s representatives during the summer.

What has Dean Jones said about Mudryk?

Jones believes it adds up for Arsenal to up the ante in their pursuit of Mudryk ahead of the transfer window reopening in January.

The journalist is interested to see whether the capital club are willing to meet Shakhtar’s demands, but he has doubts over the target’s price tag reducing by a significant amount.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “Every week, the transfer makes more sense.

“Let’s see if they are willing to front the cash, but one thing I would say is I’m not actually convinced that his price tag is genuinely dropping right now.”

How has Mudryk performed so far this season?

FBref statistics show Mudryk has averaged a greater number of goals and assists than Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli per 90 minutes since the campaign got underway, which emphasises how he could make an instant impact in north London.

The wide-man has found the back of the net 10 times in 18 appearances, according to Transfermarkt, and he would have caught the eye of numerous clubs during the Champions League group stage.

That is because, as per Sofascore, Mudryk scored every 173 minutes in Europe’s elite club competition and boasted a 33 per cent goal conversion rate.

Although Arsenal are already flying high in the Premier League, there is no doubt that the eight-cap Ukraine international would be an astute signing.

View publisher imprint