Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk admits he held talks with Premier League outfit Brentford in the summer with London rivals Arsenal now the favourites to secure the Ukraine international’s signature, speaking to Vladi Sedan on YouTube.
In the space of just a few months, Mudryk has gone from being linked with a £20 million move to Brentford to becoming one of the Champions League’s breakthrough stars. The ‘most fashionable young player in Eastern Europe’, and a man Shakhtar now are publicly demanding £85 million for.
Mudryk looks certain to become the biggest export in Shakhtar history sooner rather than later; Arsenal and Real Madrid reportedly the most likely destinations for a jet-heeled forward with a 90s boyband haircut.
Mudryk has been dubbed Europe’s third-best left winger, behind only Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid whizzkid Vinicius Jr.
ARSENAL TARGET MYKHAYLO MUDRYK HELD TALKS WITH THOMAS FRANK AT BRENTFORD
“I check on Arsenal and know when they’re playing I can check on them,” says Mudryk, expressing his admiration for Mikel Arteta’s league leaders for the third time in recent months as he eyes a big-money move to one of the continent’s bonafide A-listers.
“I also watch them too. (Arsenal are) a very dynamic side. From a purely theoretical, fantasy perspective, if there was the option of being a bench player for Real Madrid or a starter for Arsenal, I’d probably choose Arsenal.
“One surprise for me was how many Arsenal fans followed me (on social media). No other club’s fans have interacted as much as them. Telling me that they are waiting for me. Saying; ‘Come to us’. One of my recent posts has over 500 comments saying that.”
Mudryk has eight goals and eight assists this season already. He is also the fastest player in the Champions League group-stages. As such, a window of opportunity has closed on Thomas Frank’s fingers; Mudryk taking his game to a whole new level since Brentford’s interest came and went over the summer.
“When there was that transfer saga in the summer, with those rumours and everything else…” Mudryk reflects. “I spoke directly to the coaches of Nice, Bayer Leverkusen and Brentford.
“When the transfer didn’t work out, I was upset. But now we see that God’s plan is better than my dreams.”
Mudryk is currently under contract at Shakhtar until 2026.
