Arsenal’s proposed deal for young Shakhtar Donetsk talent Mykhalo Mudryk remains “50/50″, according to the Ukrainian side’s club director, with the two clubs still some way apart on a fee.
As per the Athletic, the 21-year-old is Mikel Arteta’s no.1 target this winter, and there is confidence that they can convince Shakhtar Donetsk to part ways with their young gem for a cut-price fee, with personal terms not set to be a problem.
Mudryk was the subject to 30m euro bids from Brentford on transfer deadline day in the most recent summer window, but has raised his profile with a series of strong performances in the Champions League, and is now valued at 40m euros by transfer site transfermarkt.
Three goals and two assists in the Champions League group stages have ensured that Brentford and Everton, both of whom were interested in the summer, are no longer in the race for the Ukrainian, who seems destined for a move to one of Europe’s elite sides.
However, it is reported elsewhere that the Ukrainian side will be looking to hold out for a fee of around 100m euros, something that would be a new club record signing for the Gunners and would made Mudryk the 14th most expensive transfer of all time.
Speaking to the Athletic, however, Shakhtar CEO Sergei Palkin revealed that a deal is far from done, and that in fact Arsenal remain “quite far from what we want & what clubs propose”.
However, all hope is not lost, with Palkin adding that:
“It’s not so far but it is not what we need. We have discussions. It is maybe 50-50 with regards to winter window”.
Mudryk himself has previously revealed that he would be upset should a deal not be forthcoming this January, and has named Arsenal as the club that he would like to join should it be possible.
Alternatively, Arsenal have also been made the favourites to sign Atletico Madrid starlet Joao Felix, but would likely have to stump up a similar amount of cash to make a deal happen in January.
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