Arsenal are interested in a deal to bring Mykhaylo Mudryk to The Emirates in the January transfer window.
What’s the talk?
That’s according to a report by the Evening Standard, who claim that, following a number of earlier reports suggesting that the Gunners were keen on a move for the Shakhtar Donetsk winger this winter, Edu has now opened talks with the Ukrainian side regarding a deal for the 21-year-old.
However, the report goes on to suggest that the Gunners are hoping for the Premier Liga outfit to lower their current asking price for the Ukraine international – said to be in the region of £85m – with Edu believed to be confident that he can knock Shakhtar’s current valuation of the forward down in negotiations.
A new Grealish-like sensation
Considering the “frightening” – in the words of Josh Bunting – talent Mudryk looks to be, it is not difficult to understand why Arsenal would be keen on a deal to bring the youngster to north London this winter – even for an astronomical price of £85m.
Indeed, after bagging two goals and providing seven assists over 11 Premier Liga outings last season, the £13m-rated talent has once again been in scintillating form over his 12 league fixtures in the current campaign, having hit the back of the net seven times and registered a further six assists – averaging a direct goal involvement every 70 minutes of domestic football played this term.
However, it has not only been in Ukraine that the 21-year-old has been catching the eye, as the winger also bagged three goals, registered two assists and created one big chance over his six Champions League fixtures this season, in addition to taking an average of 1.5 shots – one of which hit the target – making 0.8 key passes and completing 1.7 dribbles per game.
It was these performances that saw many sit up and take notice of the eight-cap international, with journalist and podcaster Jack Collins stating of the trickster following his display against RB Leipzig on the opening day of the Champions League season:
“Mykhaylo Mudryk is absolutely unreal. A goal and two assists, sure, but his explosiveness in small bursts is almost undefendable and his ability to keep the ball tethered to his foot, even at full speed, is Bernardo-esque. He’s going to be a star.”
However, in terms of player comparison, it is arguably Sam Tighe’s suggestion that Mudryk is actually more like a Jack “Grealish regen” that would appear to be more accurate, with the £100m Manchester City forward boasting a similar average of 1.5 completed dribbles per Premier League fixture so far this season.
As such, should Edu be successful in his attempts to land Mudryk this winter, not only would the Brazilian have added an exceptionally talented young attacker to Mikel Arteta’s squad, but he could also have unearthed a new Grealish-esque talent – something that is sure to be an extremely exciting prospect for all involved with the Gunners.