Arsenal transfer target Mykhailo Mudryk admits he was ‘shocked’ and ‘upset’ by Shakhtar Donetsk valuing him at €100 million (£87.5m).
The 21-year-old attracted interest from several clubs across Europe in the summer and his performances for Shakhtar in the Champions League this season have made him increasingly in demand ahead of the January transfer window.
Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move for Mudryk but the Gunners could now be put off after Shakhtar’s director of football, Dario Srna, suggested this week that the winger could command a transfer fee of €100m (£87.5m).
‘If somebody wants to buy Mudryk, they must pay huge, huge, huge money,’ Srna told The Athletic.
‘Otherwise the president of the club [Rinat Akhmetov] will not sell him. All the clubs must respect the president, respect Shakhtar and in the end they must respect Mykhaylo Mudryk, who is one of the best players I saw. The price is so big. The market is deciding the price – not me.
‘Antony, Grealish, they are players of more than €100m and for me, Mudryk does not have less quality than them. This is the last two transfers in the past year, in more or less the same positions. Sancho from Borussia Dortmund. We want just respect. The market is deciding the price, not me, it shows which kind of players cost this kind of money.’
When asked about Srna’s bold statement, Mudryk told SportArena: ‘Yes, I read this interview. When I found out about my price, I wasn’t just surprised – I was shocked.
‘I have a long-term contract with Shakhtar, I give all my strength and energy so that Shakhtar achieves maximum results.
‘I really hoped that my game would bring great benefit to Shakhtar and that clubs from top European championships would be interested in me.
‘I spoke with my agent and I know that in the summer there were several offers for me from clubs in the top European championships, but the club decided not to let me go. I took it as absolutely normal, because I fully trust Shakhtar’s management.
‘You see, I treat the championship of Ukraine with all respect, but every football player has a dream to play in a top club and in a top championship – I am no exception.
‘But I am 100 per cent sure that they are unlikely to buy a player from the championship of Ukraine for 100 million. Serhii Anatoliyovych says that the time will come. Maybe so. But I have my opinion that for such an amount, this time will not come soon, and maybe never.”
‘After reading the interview of the director, I will not hide that I was very upset.
‘The amount of €100m puts a barrier for my transition to the top championship, which I so dreamed of. I can’t say that my dream was killed, but wounded, that’s for sure.
‘But I’m a professional, I’m a Shakhtar player, we have a few difficult games left in the championship, in which we must win, and I’ll do my best for that.’
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