Arsenal forced to increase £60m Mykhaylo Mudryk bid after Chelsea signal interest

Arsenal have been told to increase their bid for Mykhaylo Mudryk after it emerged Chelsea are exploring a move for the Shakhtar Donetsk winger.

The Gunners have been locked in talks over a move for Mudryk but their latest offer of around £60million for the Ukraine international is set to be rejected.

Shakhtar are holding out for closer to £85m and their position has been strengthened after it emerged Chelsea could enter the race to sign Mudryk.

Chelsea have held talks with Shakhtar Donetsk chief executive Sergei Palkin, who Standard Sport understands is playing a key role in negotiations, and their interest could drive up the price.

Arsenal remain frontrunners to sign Mudryk after making him their top January transfer target, and the 21-year-old has made it clear he is keen on a move to Emirates Stadium.

But Shakhtar director Darijo Srna is set to hold talks with Chelsea in London this week as the Blues consider a move. Srna is regularly in London as his family lives there.

Shakhtar want a significant amount of any transfer fee for Mudryk to be paid upfront, which could scupper any potential move from Chelsea.

The winger could be at the centre of a tug of war.
Getty Images

The Blues are already in talks over a £112m move for Enzo Fernandez and want to stagger that fee as they bid to stay in line with UEFA financial fair play rules.

Talks are set to continue this week, with Arsenal keen to wrap up a deal quickly as they bid to strengthen their title bid.

The Gunners are working hard to push through a move for Mudryk before they play Tottenham and Manchester United later this month.

Mikel Arteta has already spoken about the benefit of doing transfer business early this month as Arsenal target their first Premier League title since 2004.

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