Arsenal have been linked with a move for Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhalo Mudryk
as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his attacking options when the January transfer window opens
Arsenal could be active once again when the transfer window reopens in January amid links to Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhalo Mudryk among others.
In the summer, Gunners technical director Edu helped to bolster the Spaniard's first-team squad with as many as five new
signings, as deals for Marquinhos, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner, Gabriel Jesus, and Oleksandr Zinchenko took the club's total transfer spend past the £100m mark.
Fast forward four months and following an impressive start to the season, Arsenal will be top of the Premier League table at Christmas - thanks in part to the World Cup break - are into the Europa League round of 16 stage and may look to strengthen even further to ensure they compete on both fronts in the new year.
As expected, the transfer rumour mill has already gone into overdrive with a number of players being linked with moves to Emirates Stadium when the January window opens. Central midfield is an area where the club could look to improve amid interest in Leicester City's Youri Tielemans and Palmeiras' Danilo which dates all the way back to the summer.
Although, the prospect of a winger arriving at Arsenal to provide competition and cover for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli shouldn't be ruled out as talk of a move for Mudryk refuses to go away especially after his admission this week about being a fan of Arteta.
Now, the good news for the north London outfit is that Shakhtar appear to be open to selling the 21-year-old in the new year. However, the winger himself has suggested that his dream move has been 'wounded' due to his club slapping an €100m (£87.6m) price-tag on his head.
"Yes, I read this interview. When I found out about my price, I wasn't surprised - I was shocked," Mudryk admitted. "I have a long-term contract with Shakhtar, I give all my strength and energy so that Shakhtar achieves maximum results. I really hoped that my game would bring great benefit to Shakhtar and that clubs from top European championships would be interested in me.
"I spoke with my agent and I know that in the summer there were several offers for me from clubs in the top European championships, but the club decided not to let me go. I took it as absolutely normal, because I fully trust Shakhtar’s management. You see, I treat the championship of Ukraine with all respect, but every football player has a dream to play in a top club and in a top championship – I am no exception.
"But I am 100 per cent sure that they are unlikely to buy a player from the championship of Ukraine for 100 million. Serhii Anatoliyovych says that the time will come. Maybe so. But I have my opinion that for such an amount, this time will not come soon, and maybe never. After reading the interview of the director, I will not hide that I was very upset. The amount of €100m puts a barrier for my transition to the top championship, which I so dreamed of. I can’t say that my dream was killed, but wounded, that’s for sure."
Now, if Mudryk is proven wrong and Shakhtar's asking price doesn't prove to be a stumbling block then he can be registered in Arsenal's Europa League squad were he to complete a move and he could even face the Ukrainian outfit at some point in the competition as they've been drawn against Rennes in the knockout round play-off.
Despite the fact Mudryk featured for Shakhtar in the Champions League group phase, he would still be permitted to play for the Gunners from the round of 16 and onwards in the Europa League if he was to seal a big-money transfer in the upcoming January window.
This is because the ruling states: 'A player who has been fielded in the preliminary round, or in the first, second or third qualifying round, or in the play-offs of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League or UEFA Europa Conference League is entitled to play in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League or UEFA Europa Conference League for another club as from the group stage.'
Of course, this scenario would not have been possible in the 2017/18 season - something which came back haunt the north London outfit after signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - as since the 2018/2019 campaign, the player registration restrictions in European competitions have been lifted, and it could benefit Arteta's side should they sign Mudryk.
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