Five potential Mykhaylo Mudryk alternatives that Arsenal could consider in the January transfer window

Arsenal have been forced to return to the drawing board after Chelsea hijacked their move for Mykhaylo Mudryk.

The Gunners are enjoying a brilliant season and are currently eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table but are in the market for a new forward following Gabriel Jesus’ injury.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been heavily linked with Mudryk but they were unwilling to enter into a bidding war with Chelsea, who agreed to pay Shakhtar Donetsk a reported £89m.

“We have excellent players and we want to improve our squad in this transfer window – when I say we I mean, myself, the coaching staff, the staff players, the board and the ownership – we all want to do that,” Arteta said after Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Tottenham.

“But we will do the deals we can do and the ones we feel are right for the club.”

We’ve looked at five other wingers they could target before the end of the January transfer window.

Rafael Leao

Since joining AC Milan from Lille in 2019, Leao has developed into one of European football’s most sought-after attacking players.

The winger was crowned Serie A Most Valuable Player and Serie A Footballer of the Year in 2021/22 after spearheading the Rossoneri to their first league title since the 2010/11 campaign.

He’s managed to maintain that impressive form this season, registering nine goals and nine assists in 24 appearances for Milan while also netting twice at the World Cup for Portugal.

The 23-year-old’s current deal with the Serie A side includes a £127m release clause but it also expires in the summer of 2024, leaving Milan in a vulnerable position.

While Milan are desperately trying to extend his stay at the San Siro, he’s yet to agree on new terms and they may have to consider a sale if Arsenal make a big offer.

Alongside the Gunners, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United have also been linked with Leao, who has publically opened the door to a Premier League move.

“Yes, in the future,” he recently told radio station RDP Africa when asked whether he wants to test himself in England. “But now I’m 100 per cent focused on Milan. I’m at a top club and I’m under contract. I also like the city of Milan.”

He added: “I’ve seen a lot of games this year. I like Arsenal, I think they play very well.”

Ronaldo's celebration and the Griddy 😍

It took Rafael Leão only two minutes to find the back of the net for AC Milan ⏱

He marked the goal with style ✨ pic.twitter.com/SYshpcIcmc

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 13, 2022

Ferran Torres

Having signed two former Manchester City players in the summer, Arteta reportedly wants to bring a third to the Emirates in 2023.

Torres left City and sealed a £46.3m move to Barcelona in January 2022 but has fallen down the pecking order at Camp Nou following Robert Lewandowski’s arrival.

Despite starting just eight games and making a further 14 substitute appearances this season, he’s still registered five goals and one assist in all competitions. The 22-year-old also scored two goals in four appearances for Spain at the 2022 World Cup.

According to reports in Spain, Arsenal have expressed an interest in Torres and Barcelona may be willing to cash in due to their financial troubles.

“They really like Ferran Torres, and they clearly believe he might become available because they inquired about him in the summer as well,” Dean Jones told GiveMeSport. “So, if they’re sniffing around him again now, they sense that something’s up.”

He’s already familiar with the Premier League following his stint at City and his versatility would allow him to fill a number of attacking roles at the Emirates.

Raphinha

Another Barcelona forward with Premier League experience, Raphinha spent two years at Leeds United before moving to Camp Nou in a £55m deal last summer.

But the Brazil international is yet to replicate his impressive Leeds form at Barcelona and has struggled to displace Ousmane Dembele from Xavi’s first-choice XI.

He was linked with Arsenal in the summer and The Evening Standard claim that the Gunners have now revived their interest in Raphinha, with sporting director Edu contacting his agent Deco over a potential January move.

Unlike Mudryk, the 26-year-old is better suited to play on the right wing but he has still played on the left flank and Arsenal need depth in both positions.

Admittedly, it’ll be a hard deal to complete as the winger probably won’t want to give up on his dream move after just six months and Barcelona have reportedly set his asking price at £88m.

Leandro Trossard

While playing for Genk in 2019, Trossard was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal,  but he decided to join Brighton in search of regular first-team football.

He’s since proved that he’s ready to make another step up, having registered 10 direct goal contributions in 16 Premier League appearances so far in 2022/23.

The 28-year-old became the first player to score a hat-trick at Anfield since former Arsenal forward Andrey Arshavin in April 2009 and has also grabbed goals against Manchester City and Chelsea in recent months.

He’s now looking to leave Brighton after falling out with manager Roberto De Zerbi and his contract expires at the end of the season, although the Seagulls have an option to extend it by another year to June 2024.

But Arsenal may have to act quickly if they want to sign him as north London rivals Tottenham have reportedly made an opening bid for Trossard.

Chelsea have also been named as a potential suitor as Graham Potter knows the Belgium international very well from their time together on the south coast but the Blues have since signed Mudryk so a move looks unlikely.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Kvaratskhelia was a relatively unknown player when he joined Napoli for just €10m last summer but has since become one of Europe’s most promising young talents.

He’s registered nine goals and 12 assists in 20 appearances in all competitions and his performances have been key to Napoli’s success this season, who currently sit nine points clear at the top of the Serie A.

The Georgia international was particularly impressive against Liverpool in the Champions League group stages and tormented Trent Alexander-Arnold with his impressive footwork.

“He is really good, the boy,” Jurgen Klopp said. “Really quick, we have to defend it well together in these moments. When he has the advantage of the first moment, then he is already gone.

“You have to try to be there in the moment when the ball arrives. If you cannot to do that, you need to be protected because he has speed. He is cheeky, he can go inside, he goes outside, that always makes him difficult. A good player.”

According to 90min, Arsenal are currently monitoring the 21-year-old, who has also been linked with Tottenham, Newcastle United and Liverpool.

The Gunners would undoubtedly have to break their own transfer record to secure Kvaratskhelia’s signature in January and Napoli will be determined to keep him until the end of the season.

READ MORE: Five low budget options Arsenal could target to replace Gabriel Jesus in the January transfer window