Shakhtar Donetsk set Mykhailo Mudryk asking price as Chelsea attempt to hijack Arsenal transfer

Chelsea are looking to hijack Arsenal’s move for Mykhailo Mudryk (Picture: Getty)

Shakhtar Donetsk have set an ambitious asking price for Mykhailo Mudryk as Chelsea attempt to hijack Arsenal’s move for the highly-rated winger.

Mudryk is enjoying a breakthrough season for Ukrainian side Shakhtar, scoring 10 goals in 18 appearances.

The 21-year-old’s form in the Ukrainian top-flight and Champions League has attracted attention from a number of top clubs.

Arsenal were seemingly at the front of the queue to secure Mudryk’s signature and tabled an opening offer for the winger earlier this week.

Shakhtar Donetsk rejected Arsenal’s opening bid – believed to be worth £55m – but the Gunners are expected to return with an improved offer.

Arsenal could now be set for a transfer tussle with London rivals Chelsea, however, as The Guardian say Blues owner Todd Boehly is planning to hijack the move and bring Mudryk to Stamford Bridge.

Boehly spent more than £250m on new signings last summer and is ready to back Graham Potter with several more additions in January, with Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, Benoit Badiashile and David Datro Fofana also the subject of interest.

Both Chelsea and Arsenal will have to dig deep to sign Mudryk, though, with The Guardian claiming Shakhtar Donetsk are holding out for £85m.

One Premier League manager has already worked with Mudryk, with Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi spending over a year at Shakhtar before his move to England.

Asked about his former player’s attributes, De Zerbi said: ‘I think Mudryk can win the Ballon d’Or in the future. Really. I know the value of Mudryk, he is a potential to win the Ballon d’Or.’

If Mudryk signs for Arsenal, he will be joining a team currently sitting five points clear at the top of the Premier League. Chelsea are eighth, six points outside the top-four.

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The London rivals are set to battle it out.