Arsenal launch shock move for Real Madrid forward as ultimate roll of the dice if Mudryk deal falls through

Arsenal have contacted Real Madrid to enquire about the possibility of signing a veteran forward this month, with a deal due to ramp up if Mykhaylo Mudryk eludes the Gunners, per a report.

With Joao Felix heading to Chelsea, Arsenal are doubly determined to land No 1 target, Mykhaylo Mudryk. The Ukraine ace, 22, would bolster Mikel Arteta’s attacking ranks and provide stiff competition for both Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka.

Mudryk is valued by Shakhtar Donetsk around the €100m (approx. £88m) mark, and Arsenal’s first two bids haven’t come close to that mark.

Their second totalled around £62m. per the Telegraph, and emboldened by Chelsea’s interest too, Shakhtar stood firm.

Arsenal remain confident Mudryk will eventually call the Emirates home, though various sources have all confirmed they’ll walk away from a deal if it becomes too expensive.

Ben Jacobs was one such journalist to echo those sentiments. The CBS Sports reporter claimed Arsenal’s upper limit for the move is around £66m.

Chelsea are believed to be willing to pay slightly more, though the Times recently detailed two other attackers Todd Boehly is now targeting. What that means for their pursuit of Mudryk is unclear.

In any case, French outlet MediaFoot have dropped a bombshell when revealing who Arsenal’s shock plan B to Mudryk is.

Eden Hazard to Arsenal? Gunners have made contact

They report Arsenal have lined up Chelsea legend and current Real Madrid flop, Eden Hazard. What’s more, ‘contact’ between the Gunners and Los Blancos has already been made.

The move sounds fanciful upon first glance, though it’s important to note MediaFoot were among the first to detail Arsenal’s interest in Mudryk. They were clearly on the right track in that regard.

Arsenal are ‘considering’ a move for Hazard who Football London suggest could be available on a six-month loan. Obviously, the Belgian veteran would only be pursued if Mudryk eludes Arsenal.

Hazard is a bona fide Premier League legend having been one of the most threatening forwards season after season at Chelsea. He won the club’s Player of the Year award in four of his seven seasons at Stamford Bridge.

Hazard, who turned 32 last Saturday, completed a monstrous €100m move to Real in 2019 that could hit €146.1m with add-ons. However, his time at the Bernabeu has been nothing short of disastrous.

Fitness issues as well as concerns over his application have blighted his three-plus-year stint in Spain. His current deal expires at the end of next season, though there’s been talk of a move to MLS in the summer.

A six-month loan could be just what Hazard needs to get the juices flowing once again. However, given how his Real spell has unfolded thus far, it’d be a huge shot in the dark for Arteta and co. given what’s at stake in their season.

TRANSFER GOSSIP: Chelsea add Man Utd target and ex-Tottenham attacker to Joao Felix in spectacular triple raid; Arsenal move hijacked by surprise Prem side