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Arsenal Want To Sign Mikhailo Mudryk And Joao Felix On One Condition

Published

2 years ago

December 30, 2022

Arsenal Want To Sign Mikhailo Mudryk And Joao Felix On One Condition

Arsenal wants to sign both Mikhailo Mudryk and Joao Felix in the January transfer window in an effort to compensate for the loss of Gabriel Jesus through injury.

Gunners showed class in their Premier League title credentials during the first match after the World Cup break with a 3-1 win over West Ham in what was their first competitive match without their summer signing from Manchester City.

Gabriel Jesus is expected to be out until March with the knee injury he sustained while playing for Brazil at the World Cup but Arsenal made light of his absence on Monday with all three starting members of their frontline, including his stand-in, Eddie Nketiah, getting on the scoresheet.

Despite that encouraging display, Arteta is keen to add more firepower to a squad that ran out of steam last season.

Emile Smith Rowe is closing on his return after three months out with a groin injury, too, but Arsenal are already pressing ahead with their business, eager to complete deals early in January.

Shakhtar Donetsk have already rejected one offer for Ukraine international winger Mudryk that has fallen short of their valuation, but further talks are scheduled to take place imminently, with Arsenal sources confident a deal will be reached.

‘Talks for Mudryk are on. We receive offers but not the ones we would like to see on our table,’ said Shakhtar’s CEO on Thursday.

‘I’ll speak again to Arsenal so yes, we are open to discuss fee and ideas. If we will agree, then let it be so. If we will not, then let it be another time.’

Felix, meanwhile, has been deemed surplus to requirements by Atletico Madrid, despite Diego Simeone’s public insistence that he is still counting on the Portugal international.

‘We have good working relationship, he’s important to the team,’ said Simeone earlier this week.

‘If he transmits to us what we saw at the World Cup, João Felix will be very important — he has talent and the team needs his qualities.’

Felix’s agent, Jorge Mendes is, however, understood to have offered the versatile forward to a number of Premier League clubs with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United all interested in a six-month loan deal.

At present, however, Arsenal are not interested in paying Atletico’s £8 million asking price, but are confident the Spanish club will eventually lower their demands.