Arsenal given big surprise in Mykahylo Mudryk scouting mission

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Arsenal’s heads were turned during a recent scouting mission to watch Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, according to reports. The Ukrainian outfit faced Real Madrid in the Champions League last week and Federico Valverde won even more fans with his latest stellar display. 

Mudryk became a key figure towards the end of the summer transfer window with a host of teams keen to beat the rush before he became a household name. The 21-year-old only has a handful of senior appearances under his belt but he has made a big impression in a short space of time. 

Gunners scouts were supposedly keen to see how he fared against the big guns as Shakhtar travelled to the Bernabeu on Wednesday. However, it turned out to be a quiet night for the youngster as goals from Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr fired Los Blancos to a 2-1 victory. 

That being said, Valverde was the standout player on the pitch and Spanish outlet Defensa Central claim that Arsenal scouts left the ground with their ‘mouths open’ at his display. 

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Liverpool are also thought to be interested but Madrid seemingly saw his meteoric rise coming a mile away, slapping him with a huge £880million release clause. Whether the Reds or the Gunners have the financial might to test Los Blancos’ resolve remains to be seen. 

Valverde rose through the ranks with Uruguayan side Penarol before signing for Real Madrid B in 2016. His first-team debut came a year later and he now appears to be hitting top gear alongside a talented midfield contingent including Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and summer signing Aurelien Tchouameni. 

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The 24-year-old’s standing in the European game means that Arsenal may consider Mudryk a much more realistic signing. The player himself claims that he would find it hard to turn down the Gunners while openly discussing his future, which looks set to lie away from Shakhtar. 

“Arsenal is a very good team with a very good coach and I like the way they play,” Mudryk told CBS Sports. “From my side, I can’t say no [to Arsenal] but the transfer is not only my decision. It’s a lot of people, like the president of Shakhtar and the club. Every guy dreams about the Premier League. It’s a top league and everyone wants to play in it.

“But the speculation has passed and I must move forward and focus on Shakhtar and in winter we will see what will happen. There were a lot of discussions about a transfer and clubs who want me, but it’s normal. Now I am at Shakhtar and I want to play in this team.”

Madrid themselves are also in the running and Mudryk’s quiet performance at the Bernabeu last week is not thought to have put them off. Everton saw a bid rejected in the summer with Shakhtar thought to be holding out for a fee in excess of £44m. 

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