Arsenal, Chelsea or Newcastle? 'Mudryk plays final Shakhtar game'

Updated: 2 Nov 2022 19:31 GMT
4 min read

Mykhalo Mudryk Shakhtar Donetsk 2022-23 — © ProShots

Mykhaylo Mudryk has likely played his final Champions League game for Shakhtar Donetsk after they were eliminated from the competition on Wednesday evening.

The flying forward is being tracked by some of the biggest clubs in Europe ahead of the January transfer window, and he is expected to leave his current club in the new year.

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Mudryk has established himself as one of the hottest young talents in the world, with the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle all hoping to sign him in January.

All eyes were on Shakhtar’s Champions League game against RB Leipzig on Wednesday.

Shakhtar needed a win over their Group F rivals in order to progress into the knockout stages of the competition.

Had Shakhtar qualified at Leipzig’s expense, the Donetsk outfit were likely to keep hold of their prized prospect until the end of the season, with the next stage of the Champions League not played until after the January transfer window closes.

However, Shakhtar were thrashed 4-0 at home by Leipzig - likely signalling the end of Mudryk's European career for the Ukraine side.

Mudryk has never hidden his desire to eventually move to one of Europe’s elite clubs, describing a move to the Premier League as ‘a dream’ and admitting his admiration for Arsenal.

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The Gunners were one of many teams who made an attempt to sign Mudryk in the summer but their approaches were refuted by Shakhtar, who have slapped a reported €50 million price tag on the 21-year-old.

However, a Champions League group stage exit has increased the pressure on Shakhtar to quickly cash in on a player who is desperate to continue his rise to superstardom.

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Mudryk ‘worth more than Antony’

Mudryk has impressed with three goals in six Champions League games this season, as well as becoming a regular feature in the Ukraine national team.

Shakhtar’s Deputy sporting director, Carlo Nicolini, told Calciomercato that Mudryk was valued at more than the £85m that Manchester United paid Ajax for winger Antony this summer.

He said: “Together with Kylian Mbappe, Rafa Leao and Vinicius Jr, Mudryk is the strongest player in his role. Is £35m enough to buy him? We don’t speak for these figures, not even for £45m, we don’t even call the president to make the offer.

“We value Mudryk more than United’s Antony - £85m. Floating between Arsenal and Man City? They are two teams that have taken an interest in the player.

“But there are also other clubs than can spend right away. We are not obliged to sell, we do not want to lose phenomena. We don’t want to shoot figures that aren’t realistic.

“But in this team, he is the most decisive. If you want to take on certain players who make a difference in the top clubs, you also need the right money.”