A new report claims there is now a ‘good chance’ Arsenal will complete a deal to sign Mykhaylo Mudryk in a big blow to West Ham.
West Ham have been heavily linked with Ukraine star Mudryk, who was also linked with a move to Brentford in the summer.
But the problem for Hammers boss David Moyes is that his old charge Mikel Arteta also wants to bring him to league leaders Arsenal.
Mudryk has bagged 10 goals and two assists in just 25 games for the Ukrainian outfit this season. Five of those goal contributions have come in the Champions League.
So it is easy to see why the likes of West Ham and Arsenal are seriously keen on the attacker.
Sport Arena have claimed the Shakhtar star could be available for around £20m in January or next summer although The Daily Mail suggests he could cost closer to £50m.
West Ham were already facing a losing battle after CBS journalist Ben Jacobs told Give Me Sport Mudryk preferred a move to Arsenal.
Now there looks to have been a killer blow to any hopes Moyes and head of recruitment Rob Newman might have of luring the 21-year-old to the London Stadium.
A new report claims there is now a ‘good chance’ Arsenal will complete the Mudryk deal in a big blow to West Ham.
Writing for The Athletic, David Ornstein admits several clubs are in touch with representatives of both Shakhtar and Mudryk.
But the journalist suggests Arsenal are very much in the box seat.
“Their priority target is Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk and sources with knowledge of the matter think there is a good chance it will happen, though nothing is agreed at present,” Ornstein states in The Athletic.
“Shakhtar have stated their value for the highly-coveted Ukraine international as €100million (£85.9m, $105.3m) – but interested parties are of the understanding that a lower fee would be deemed acceptable.
“Arsenal are among the clubs in touch with both Shakhtar and Mudryk’s representatives, with the 21-year-old known to be focused on moving to the Premier League and determined to make the Emirates Stadium his destination.”
The good news for West Ham is that they won’t have to face Mudryk when the two sides meet on Boxing Day, six days before the January window opens.
But Moyes and Newman will have to keep looking for reinforcements as the Hammers look to turn their season around.