This signing genuinely excites me. He's raw but so much fun to watch.

13 days later

The Premier League paused for six weeks to make room for this winter World Cup with Arsenal top of the table, leaving many keen to discover if the January window will be used to help maintain what is an unexpected title bid.

Arsenal are prepared to do so if an opportunity arises that the club deem right for the long term, with the Kroenke family — their American owners — wanting to back now-sporting director Edu and manager Mikel Arteta.

Their priority target is Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk and sources with knowledge of the matter think there is a good chance it will happen, though nothing is agreed at present.

Shakhtar have stated their value for the highly-coveted Ukraine international as €100million (£85.9m, $105.3m) – but interested parties are of the understanding that a lower fee would be deemed acceptable.

Arsenal are among the clubs in touch with both Shakhtar and Mudryk’s representatives, with the 21-year-old known to be focused on moving to the Premier League and determined to make the Emirates Stadium his destination.

Brentford had a deal worth €25million in place last summer, when he was also on Arsenal’s radar, and his stock has since risen. It will ultimately come down to the price and while the north London club may have alternative possibilities, Mudryk is their focus.

i want to get him in, but what's the upper limit we should be spending? shakhtar are clearly in sell mode and are trying to publicly pump his price tag. he really shouldn't be going for more than 50-60m.

  • goon replied to this.

    It's time for me to post my ITK source. I'm told this is pretty much in advanced stage and will be done in January. Fee is alot lower than 100m

      Gazza M

      £50-60m is probably about right and that's after you add on Jan premium etc. Given his age and I assume modest salary it probably wouldn't be too bad overspending on him provided he isn't a flop ofc.

      goon I would post photos but realised there are no private forums anymore and everything is public here.

      I'm slightly miffed we're hunting for a winger where we have cover when we have a striker and a Thomas Partey issue. Maybe the club thinks Balogun is the next great thing.

        I think it's more that they think Mudryk is the next big thing.

        I'd also imagine the thinking is that that another winger helps free up Martinelli to play centrally and Saka to be rested (if we were to use either on the right, which admittedly seems a bit unlikely).

        Can he play left and right? That would be ideal.

        This is the 3rd wide forward Ornstein has linked us with after Raphinha and Neto. Let's hope it's third time lucky, we also have confirmation fron Clrnc's source so what could go wrong? 🙃

          banduan I reckon Martinelli will play through the middle more often

          Even if we do sign this kid, do people really think he is going to be in the starting lineup right away?

          He doesn't need to be, but what he does provide at the very least is a viable option off the bench, cover for injuries and a high quality rotation option. We need to get to a place where he have 15-16 players who are genuinely starting quality across the pitch. We have that in defence I'd say, but in midfield and the forward areas is where we're lacking right now.

          Easy to see this guy earning us 3-6 points with a couple of winning goals/assists in tight games. Keeps the others on their toes as well.