Transfer Gossip: First Arsenal signing close as Edu launches £53m swoop for Newcastle target; Man Utd winger wanted by Everton

Arsenal are getting close to landing their prime January transfer target after Sporting Director Edu Gaspar submitted a formal offer for him, a Manchester United attacker could leave Old Trafford after emerging on Everton’s wish list, while Tuesday’s Transfer Gossip claims Ajax hope to sign a Brentford star.

ARSENAL LAUNCH MYKHAYLO MUDRYK BID

Arsenal have got their January transfer business underway by sending Shakhtar Donetsk an offer for winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, according to a transfer expert.

Mikel Arteta is keen to bring in another winger this winter to help provide competition and backup for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

The Gunners have been linked with several wide men over the past few months, but Mudryk has always been their main target.

Newcastle like the look of Mudryk too and had been hoping to take him to St James’ Park. One pundit reckons Newcastle capturing the Ukrainian would take Eddie Howe’s side to ‘another level’.

But it is Arsenal who look set to win the race for him. As per transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Edu has acted on his interest in Mudryk by launching a bid.

It is worth €40million plus €20m in potential bonuses. That works out at €60m (£52.8m) in total.

Arsenal clearly believe this is the right price to sign Mudryk. But Shakhtar have other ideas. According to Romano, they ‘want way more than this’ to let their prized asset go.

Shakhtar chief Darijo Srna has previously said the 21-year-old is worth as much as Jack Grealish, who swapped Aston Villa for Manchester City in a £100m deal.

Arsenal to negotiate over Shakhtar demands

While Shakhtar publicly value Mudryk at £100m, it is understood they will sell him for less than this. It is now up to Arsenal to negotiate on the fee and get closer to Shakhtar’s private valuation.

Edu is also in contact with Mudryk’s agent about a potential contract. This should be relatively easy to sort out, as the forward ‘wants’ an Arsenal move.

This has been clear for some time. In November, Mudryk admitted to following Arsenal matches on his phone, while also calling Arteta’s team ‘dynamic’.

In that same month, Mudryk conducted an interview with Oleksandr Zinchenko’s wife, Vlada Sedan, where he said Arsenal fans are the ones who have pushed hardest for him to join via social media.

And last night, Mudryk posted a story on Instragam which showed him watching Arsenal’s 3-1 victory over West Ham. Romano says this represents a ‘clear message’, as Mudryk is pushing for his Arsenal switch amid the negotiations between the two clubs.

If Mudryk joins Arsenal for £53m or more, he will become the third-most expensive signing in their history. He will cost more than Ben White (£50m), but potentially less than Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£56m) and Nicolas Pepe (£72m).

EVERTON WANT MAN UTD WINGER

Everton are expressing interest in signing Anthony Elanga from Manchester United, according to a report.

Elanga picked up decent game time under Ralf Rangnick last season as Man Utd’s interim boss rated him highly. The winger is still being played by new manager Erik ten Hag, although he isn’t having the same impact.

Elanga is struggling to get into the starting eleven ahead of other wingers such as Marcus Rashford, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho. Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial are in Ten Hag’s squad, too.

Elanga has never pushed for a transfer away from Old Trafford. But the Daily Mail claim he is ‘growing frustrated at his peripheral role under Ten Hag’. And other English clubs are beginning to take note of his situation.

Frank Lampard wants a new winger to arrive at Everton in January and the 20-year-old is one of the main players he is considering.

Any Everton approach would for Elanga would be a loan, rather than a bid for a permanent move.

The report states Everton are likely to face competition from other Prem sides for him. But it does not reveal which teams they might be.

Elanga will probably want to join the Toffees. A transfer to Goodison Park would give him the chance to impress in the Prem and continue his development with lots of game time.

The decision will ultimately rest with Ten Hag. During the January window, he will decide whether he has enough players to let peripheral ones like Elanga leave.

BRENTFORD MAN LINKED WITH AJAX

Ajax are aiming to prize goalkeeper David Raya away from Brentford in January, according to reports emerging from Spain.

The Dutch side are in dire need of a new keeper. Remko Pasveer and Maarten Stekelenburg are 39 and 40 respectively, while younger option Jay Gorter is yet to convince club chiefs.

Ajax are sounding out a few potential successors to Pasveer and Brentford’s Raya is one of the keepers they have landed on.

Spanish outlet AS claim Ajax will try to capture Raya as soon as possible. And they are already in contact with his representative about the potential move.

Brentford now have a big decision to make. As the Spaniard’s contract expires in 2024, they could rush through discussions with him to get a new deal over the line. This should help to keep Ajax at bay.

Alternatively, Brentford might decide to sell Raya and make some money on him. They signed him for £3m in 2019, and Ajax would be willing to pay a lot more than this.

The Bees may be forced into the latter decision. This is because the shot-stopper ‘likes’ the prospect of moving to the Johan Cruyff Arena. As such, he would probably reject a contract extension offer from Brentford.

If the 27-year-old does depart Brentford, then he will likely get a decent send off. He has been influential to their recent rise, helping them achieve promotion from the Championship and finish 13th in the top flight last season.

And Raya has already helped Brentford to pull off impressive results against the likes of Man Utd, Man City and Tottenham this campaign.

Due to his top performances under Thomas Frank, Bees supporters would probably understand if Raya took the next step in his career and moved to Ajax. Unfortunately, though, it would be hard for Brentford to get a new keeper in that’s as good as he is.

Meanwhile, Man Utd and Arsenal could miss out on a La Liga star after Chelsea began plotting a loan move for him.