Arsenal Transfers: Gunners set to miss out on priority target

Arsenal are set to miss out on priority transfer target Mykhaylo Mudryk after Chelsea agreed a mammoth deal with Shakhtar Donetsk for the 22-year-old’s services. 

Chelsea’s threat in the race for Mudryk was documented last week, but Arsenal appeared to remain the front runners after the Blues failed to strike a deal following initial talks.

The player’s desire to join the Gunners has long left the north London club in a strong position, but Shakhtar’s stubbornness in negotiations allowed Chelsea to swoop.

Gunners set to miss out on priority target

The Athletic’s David Ornstein dropped a bombshell on Saturday evening when he revealed that Chelsea have agreed a €100m deal to sign Mudryk. It’s believed that Todd Boehly and co. will splurge an initial €70m plus €30m in add-ons to bring the winger to Stamford Bridge.

Mudryk has also agreed to personal terms despite his apparent desperation to join Arsenal, with the player penning a seven-year deal at the club.

It’s understood that the Gunners came close to matching Shakhtar’s lofty valuation for the 22-year-old, but they were never going to get drawn into a bidding war with Boehly.

The fee is extortionate, that’s for sure, but Mudryk was a player Arsenal could’ve done with during the second half of the season and beyond. An alternative will surely be sounded out, with Edu boasting a pretty good record in recent times when it comes to Plan B’s.

The Gunners’ willingness to spend big – just not big enough – on Mudryk suggests that funds are available this winter, and the club must utilise them this month. They’ve got a golden opportunity to lift the Premier League title, and depth in attacking areas would further enhance their cause.

The right player has to become available, but the club has to be ruthless for the remainder of the transfer window.