ARSENAL appear to finally be closing in on a transfer swoop for Mykhailo Mudryk despite the winger travelling with Shakhtar Donetsk for winter training.
Arsenal are still locked in negotiations for the Ukrainian international winger after weeks of talks.
He is now their No.1 target after they lost out to Chelsea in their attempts to take Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid.
Now transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has offered an update on the situation, and he hinted that a fee remains the main issue.
He tweeted: “Arsenal board has always considered Mudryk the priority target for January, direct talks with Shakhtar took place also today — as Joao will join Chelsea.
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“Deal not in final stages yet. Fee still under discussion. Mudryk wants Arsenal as priority, never been in doubt.”
Foot Mercato have also provided some hope for Gooners, as they claim that “Shakhtar and Arsenal are closing in on an agreement for Mykhaylo Mudryk”.
Arsenal have submitted an offer worth £62m, but it was well below the Ukrainian side's asking price.
But Shakhtar Donetsk's sporting director Carlo Nicolini has hinted that Manchester United, who splashed out £85m to Ajax for Antony, are to blame for lengthy negotiations as Mudryk is “stronger” than the Brazilian.
He said last week: “Given that we have no need for transfers, we said in due time that we evaluate the player stronger than some other profiles, such as Antony. This is the benchmark.
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“The problem is that Italian clubs don’t take advantage of opportunities, like Milan with Enzo Fernandez, who is now worth over £100million.
“When you arrive in time on a player you have to sink the shot, otherwise the prices change.”
However, despite the speculation continuing to mount, the star is heading to Turkey with his team-mates.
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The Athletic’s Adam Crafton has reported that “Mudryk *is* with the Shakhtar squad as they travel into Poland ahead of flying to a winter training camp in Turkey this morning”.