Arsenal have been ‘offered’ a number of alternative options after Mykhailo Mudryk joined Chelsea instead of heading to the Emirates Stadium, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has told GiveMeSport.
The Ukraine international has completed an £88million move from Shakhtar Donetsk to west London despite being identified as a key target by the Premier League leaders.
Arsenal transfer news – Mykhailo Mudryk alternatives
According to 90min, Arsenal sporting director Edu has made contact with Barcelona to explore potential deals for Raphinha and Ferran Torres.
The report suggests the Gunners have held exploratory talks over a number of possible alternatives to Mudryk, having been keen to strengthen their wide options since last summer, while Brighton & Hove Albion’s Kaoru Mitoma and Napoli talisman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are also on their radar.
Arsenal initially attempted to sign Raphinha before the campaign got underway, but a big-money bid was rejected by Leeds United and he ended up joining Barcelona in a £55million deal.
Meanwhile, the north Londoners have been offered Brighton winger Leandro Trossard, who is keen to move onto pastures new after agent Josy Comhair claimed he has been left ‘humiliated’ by Seagulls chief Roberto De Zerbi.
Away from the wide areas, Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor recently told GiveMeSport that Arsenal are ‘open-minded’ over signing a new central midfielder if the right option becomes available.
What has Fabrizio Romano said about the situation?
Romano understands Arsenal have been handed an opportunity to sign numerous stars since the transfer window reopened at the turn of the year, but Mudryk was their top target.
As a result, the capital club were not interested in holding talks over alternative options until Chelsea hijacked their move for the wide-man.
Romano told GiveMeSport: “Many other players have been offered to Arsenal, but they always wanted Mudryk as their priority.
“I think the focus was on Mudryk and they were not speaking to other players in that position.”
Does Mudryk’s move to Chelsea come as a major Arsenal blow?
There is no doubt that Mudryk has enjoyed a season to remember, having already racked up 18 goal contributions in as many appearances so far, according to Transfermarkt.
FBref statistics also show the 22-year-old has found the back of the net more regularly and registered a greater number of assists per 90 minutes than current Arsenal wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli since the campaign got underway.
With that in mind, it is a blow that Mikel Arteta was unable to add Mudryk to his squad, but £88million is a huge outlay, particularly for someone who has never featured in one of Europe’s big five leagues.
Arsenal would have had to comfortably surpass their record transfer fee in order to match Chelsea’s offer.
As a result, the Premier League table-toppers may be better off luring a proven wide-man to the Emirates Stadium and missing out on Mudryk could end up being a blessing in disguise.
