Shakhtar chief admits talks with Arsenal over Mykhaylo Mudryk transfer ongoing as Gunners beg club to slash asking price
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SHAKHTAR DONETSK revealed talks are still ongoing with Arsenal over a deal for Mykhaylo Mudryk.
Shakhtar have already rejected the Gunners’ opening offer of £35million, plus a further £17.5m in easily achievable add-ons.
But transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports negotiations are still in full gear between the Ukrainian giants and the North Londoners who continue to talk on the phone.
Shakhtar CEO Sergei Palkin on Thursday: "Now, literally in 5 minutes, I will have a new phone call conversation with Arsenal for Mykhaylo Mudryk deal."
Arsenal want Mudryk's club to set a more realistic release clause.
And the Premier League leaders are pointing to Cody Gakpo’s move to Liverpool, which cost only £37m rising to £45m.
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But the Ukrainians have shown little sign of budging from their hefty £85m valuation of the winger.
Arsenal believe that is an unreasonable release clause for a 21-year-old with little more than 18 months of Ukrainian league football under his belt.
However, Shakhtar sporting director Darijo Srna continues to claim the Ukraine international is in the same bracket as Antony, who cost Manchester United £85.5m.
And Srna even mentioned the £100m British-record fee which Manchester City paid Aston Villa for Jack Grealish.
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Srna believes Mudryk is at the same level as Grealish.
He told Spanish newspaper Marca: “Who wants to sign Mudryk has to pay a big amount of money — otherwise our president will not sell him.
"Jack Grealish was sold for 100m and Mudryk’s level is not lower.”
Arsenal are still expected to return with an improved bid for the player dubbed the "Ukrainian Neymar".
And Mudryk appears keen on moving to the Emirates after uploading an image of himself on social media watching Mikel Arteta's men beat West Ham 3-1 on Boxing Day.