Mykhaylo Mudryk makes exciting admission as Arsenal weigh up transfer

Shakhtar Donetsk winger and reported Arsenal target Mykhaylo Mudryk has admitted that he often checks up on the Gunners, who he thinks highly of after their impressive start to the Premier League campaign. The north Londoners currently lead the way by a margin of five points and will be looking to strengthen their title bid with a productive January transfer window at the turn of the year.Mudryk is one of several high-profile names to have been linked with Arsenal over the last few weeks, although a handful of other clubs are also said to be keeping tabs on the 21-year-old’s progress at Shakhtar. It seems as though he may prefer to join Mikel Arteta’s squad if he is given the opportunity to do so, though, after revealing in an interview with Oleksandr Zinchenko’s wife Vlada that he regularly checks up on how Arsenal are doing.”Yeah,” said Mudryk when asked if he follows the Gunners. “I check on them in ‘myscore’ and know when they’re playing I can check on them, I also watch them too. [Arsenal are] a very dynamic side in general, not just in controlling possession but also in scoring goals.”The Shakhtar forward’s response suggests that he is a fan of Arteta’s style of play, which could stand Arsenal in good stead to win the race for his signature when the bidding opens at the turn of the year. Any move for Mudryk would almost certainly be set to make a huge dent in their transfer budget, though, with Shakhtar director Carlo Nicolini insisting last month that the player will only be sold if a mega-money bid is tabled.JUST IN: Ronaldo has chance to seal Chelsea transfer after Tuchel departure Mykhaylo Mudryk has been heavily linked with a January move to Arsenal (Image: GETTY)”Together with Kylian Mbappe, Rafael Leao and Vinicius Junior, Mudryk is the strongest player in his role,” Nicolini told Calciomercato before going on to disclose Arsenal and Manchester City’s interest in the winger.”Is £35million 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 [at] £85m. Arsenal and Man City? They are two teams that have taken an interest in the player.”DON’T MISSChelsea make transfer ‘promise’ to wonderkid to fend off LiverpoolMan City boss Pep Guardiola to use World Cup break to consider futureMan Utd chiefs ‘call emergency meeting with Ten Hag over Ronaldo’ The Gunners are said to be keeping tabs on Mudryk’s progress at Shakhtar (Image: EXPRESS)It remains to be seen whether the Gunners will be able to negotiate a successful January move for Mudryk, who has chipped in with eight goals and as many assists in all competitions so far this season. He looks destined to move on to bigger and better things at some point in the near future and previously hinted at a potential move to Arsenal earlier this year by claiming that he would be open to joining the Premier League leaders if they eventually come calling.”In the winter we will see,” Mudryk told CBS Sports when quizzed on Arsenal’s desire to snap him up. “There’s been a lot of discussions about a transfer and speculation about what clubs want me.”I think every player dreams of the Premier League. It’s hard to say but Arsenal is a very good team, very good coach. I like the way they play. From my side I can’t say no but a transfer is not just up to my decision.”Want the latest Premier League news as we publish it on Express Sport? Join our Facebook group by clicking here.