Arsenal, Newcastle on red alert as clubs encouraged to make ‘contact’ for €100m rising star likened to Neymar

The race for Shakhtar Donetsk star Mykhaylo Mudryk is hotting up after ‘top clubs’ were invited to begin negotiations over a possible transfer.

The 21-year-old has leapt to the attention of Europe’s big-hitters after a string of superb displays for Shakhtar. The talented winger has been handed nine starts among ten appearances in the Ukrainian Premier League this term. He has responded with five goals while his overall play has seen him labelled as one of the brightest talents in Europe.

Mudryk has also seen plenty of action in the Champions League. The Ukraine international started all of the club’s six group games in Europe’s elite club competition.

Although he could not prevent them from slipping into the Europa League, he did bag three goals and two assists.

Many clubs have been linked, with Arsenal said to be monitoring the situation.

Manchester United, Newcastle and Juventus have also been mentioned in connection with the talented wide man.

But it is the Gunners connection that has garnered most column inches in recent weeks.

Any suitor will have to come to the table armed with a huge transfer kitty if they are to land the Krasnohrad-born ace.

The East Europeans have already spoken of his value being around the €100m mark.

Arsenal have been tipped to sign two players in the January transfer window.

The north Londoners would need to make Mudryk their record signing if they did lure him to the Emirates.

His value is currently around £87.5m, with the Gunners forking out £72m to Lille for Nicolas Pepe in summer 2019. But a winter move is not out of the question.

Suitors urged to step up interest in Mudryk

Mudryk dipped his toe in the Ukrainian top flight during the 2019-2020 season, making three appearances.

He was given more exposure in subsequent loans to Arsenal Kyiv and Desna Chernihiv.

However, now back at his parent club, he is beginning to show why there has been so much noise around his future.

Shakhtar Donetsk deputy sporting director Carlo Nicolini knows just how good the starlet is.

He made it clear that Juventus have yet to open dialogue. But it appears as though the club is open to selling Mudryk should the right offer come in.

“Mudryk is a phenomenon, a great prospect for the future, and huge clubs such as Juventus have taken an interest in him,” he told TuttoJuve.

“There has never been direct contact or negotiation with the Bianconeri.

“The insiders of the top clubs are following him, the Champions League was an even more important showcase to show his value.

“Now it will be time to get back in contact with the club, the agent and the boy himself to see if someone will start a negotiation, for the moment Mudryk is focused exclusively on the last two days of the championship.”

January move a possibility for Mudryk

Everton were aware of the prodigious young talent last summer. The Toffees were said to have tabled a €30m bid late in the window.

That was rejected and it is obvious that his value has soared since then. Frank Lampard’s side now seem out of the running for a player dubbed the ‘Ukrainian Neymar’.

But a few clubs will certainly be keeping a close eye on proceedings in the new year.

Mudryk has already stated that speculation over his future has caught him by surprise, with the figures mentioned.

Nicolini expects him to cope with all the added attention and has laid the foundations of a winter transfer.

“He’s a great professional, he’ll leave these rumours to those responsible,” he added. “Then with the break, we’ll see if anything happens or not.”

Arsenal are flying high at the top of the Premier League. And, with money to spend, it may be that Mikel Arteta has a new weapon in his armoury for a title push in 2023.

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