The road is long, the destination is fantastic, but even though Arsenal lead the pack – they’re only halfway there. Premier League leaders want to do everything they can to stay in their current position until the end of the campaign, and to do so – they must be proactive in the football market. Manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed interest in one of the most exciting young European players.Arsenal are currently in talks with Shakhtar Donetsk over a deal for winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, while they also want a midfielder and a left-sided centre-back.”We are going to be active and active means we are looking to strengthen the team. This squad still doesn’t have the luxury of not maximising every single window. We have to do that because it’s really important. But then we have to get the right profile, it has to be the right player to take us to the next level. We will be in the market always active and we will assess the biggest opportunities that we have.”⚡ MYKHALIO MUDRYK ⚡pic.twitter.com/Tw3BiQGeHk— Phantomn AFC (@PhantomnAFC) December 15, 2022 Mudryk’s name has been mentioned in connection with the Gunners for some time. The 21-year-old has been turning heads with his displays for the Ukrainian outfit. And Shakhtar’s vice sporting director, Carlo Nicolini, confirmed earlier his week that Arsenal’s interest was genuine. However, other clubs are also on the case. Arteta’s strong bond with club owners should come in handy.Arsenal used the World Cup break to head to Dubai for warm-weather training and friendlies. Before that, Arteta and sporting director Edu flew to the USA and met with the club’s owners, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment.”We are always connected. I think that relationship is getting stronger and stronger. They’ve been over a few times and we’ve been there a few times. It’s a very special relationship right now to understand the way they think about sports, what they’ve done in other sports and with other franchises.”##NAJAVA_MECA_6907631##However, the huge price tag could be a stumbling block in the chase for Mudryk. Reports vary as to the figure Shakhtar want, but it will be in the region of $100 million. Arsenal may have funds to spend, but that is a hefty outlay for a player with only 45 top-flight games in his career.CBS journalist Ben Jacobs has tweeted that Arsenal talks over Mudryk are ‘progressing’, adding that a January deal is “very possible” as Arsenal are’ prioritising getting it done’.
