Chelsea and Newcastle among Arsenal’s rivals for Mudryk

Robin Bairner

24 Sept 2022 09:23 BST
3 min read

Mykhaylo Mudryk, Ukraine, 2022 — © ProShots

Arsenal are known to be admirers of Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, but they face competition from Chelsea and a host of Premier League rivals for the Ukraine international.

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Mudryk has previously indicated that he is open to a move to the Emirates Stadium and appeared close to getting his wish during the summer.

He has since gone on to impress in the Champions League with the Ukrainian outfit, scoring two goals and creating two more in just a couple of appearances. His outing for the national team against Scotland on Wednesday, though, ended in disappointment as he was largely peripheral in a 3-0 defeat.

Nevertheless, that was a game watched by many Premier League sides, including Chelsea, who now represent rivals for Arsenal in the race to the sign the highly rated 21-year-old winger.

In addition to these clubs, Brentford, Brighton, Everton, Leeds, Newcastle, West Ham and Wolves all had scouts watching the fixture. There were several more clubs also present.

Multiple targets

Mykhalo Mudryk Shakhtar Donetsk 2022-23 — © ProShots

90Min reports that Arsenal and Chelsea were presently to watch Mudryk, but the other clubs were casting their eye over a handful of players.

Mykola Matviyenko, who had been linked with a move to Arsenal before they signed Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City, was one of the players who was being watched by a number of clubs. Capable of playing on the left or in the centre of the defence, he was used in that latter role against Scotland.

Furthermore, midfielder Viktor Tsyhankov was also closely watched by a number of Premier League sides. The 24-year-old plays his club football with Dynamo Kyiv as a midfielder.

Premier League scouts are unlikely to have come away from Ukraine’s match particularly impressed with what they saw as the visiting side were largely overwhelmed in an unexpected manner.

Nevertheless, with Mudryk continuing to impress in the Champions League, Arsenal, Chelsea and their rivals clubs will all be keeping close tabs on him.