Arsenal’s deal for Mykhaylo Mudryk is advancing, with the clubs close to agreeing on a fee, but the player is with Shakhtar Donetsk’s training camp for now.
Shakhtar Donetsk’s Ukranian forward Mykhaylo Mudryk takes part in a team training session at Celtic Park in Glasgow on October 24, 2022, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League Group F football match against Celtic. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Ukrainian outlet SportArena have generally been the first to any new updates on negotiations for Mykhaylo Mudryk over the last few weeks, and they gave a positive report on the situation on Monday.
According to SportArena, Arsenal and Shakhtar Donetsk are continuing negotiations, and the clubs are now close to agreeing on the total amount of Mudryk’s transfer – including the fixed fee and bonuses.
However, there’s still some dispute over how much of that total fee will be paid upfront.
Arsenal want bonuses to comprise at least 30% of the entire transfer fee, but Shakhtar want bonuses to be a maximum of 20%.
The Gunners have already agreed personal terms for Mudryk, so once a fee is agreed upon, the rest should go smoothly.
Santi Aouna and Sebastien Denis of FootMercato report that Arsenal have taken a “decisive advantage” in the Mudryk race, and confirm that whilst the two parties are still discussing bonuses, they’ve almost agreed on the overall amount.
Arsenal sources are reportedly confident of a deal, whilst rivals Chelsea are now much less optimistic.
Fabrizio Romano’s update isn’t quite so positive, as he claims that whilst direct talks were held on Monday, the deal isn’t in the final stages yet.
Romano does at least confirm that Mudryk wants Arsenal as a priority, just as he’s Arsenal’s priority.
Leipzig’s Hungarian midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai (L) and Shakhtar Donetsk’s Ukrainian forward Mykhailo Mudryk vie for the ball during the UEFA Champions League Group F football match between Shakhtar Donetsk and RB Leipzig in Warsaw, on November 2, 2022. (Photo by JANEK SKARZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
While nothing is officially agreed, Mudryk has joined up with his Shakhtar teammates travelling to Turkey for their mid-season training camp.
The Athletic report that Mudryk was part of the team that travelled over the Ukrainian border into Poland on Tuesday morning ahead of their flight to Turkey. Adam Crafton adds that Arsenal and Chelsea remain interested in the winger.
Though it’s clearly not a done deal just yet, this update combined with the news that Chelsea are prioritising Joao Felix and Marcus Thuram suggests everything is heading for a positive conclusion.
Yet Shakhtar have been stubborn negotiators so far. There are no guarantees.
Via: DAILYCANNON
