The Gunners launched their opening bid for the Shakhtar Donetsk winger this week with their offer worth up to €65million [£57million] – €40m up front with €25m to follow in add-ons.

Mudryk is eager to join the Premier League leaders (Picture: Getty)

That offer was rejected by the Ukrainian side on Tuesday however, falling someway short of their valuation.

Arsenal still hope to get a deal done this month with Mudryk making no secret of his desire to join Mikel Arteta’s side.

Shakhtar officials have previously suggested Arsenal would have to pay a fee similar to what Manchester United stumped up to bring Antony from Ajax during the summer transfer window, a deal that set Erik ten Hag’s side back £85m.

But Shakhtar director Carlo Nicolini now insists Arsenal will have to set a new or match the existing Premier League record transfer fee, the £100m Manchester City paid Aston Villa for Grealish in 2021, to get their man.

Nicolini told Calciomercato: ‘Our sporting director said that, to sell Mudryk, we need an offer closer to Grealish than Antony. We’re not even considering a bid with €40m (£35.3m) as fixed fee.’

Arsenal saw an opening offer rejected this week (Picture: Getty)

Mudryk got Arsenal fans excited after sharing footage of him watching his potential new club’s Boxing Day win over West Ham.

Mikel Arteta was quizzed on the social media activity post-match but was adamant that the Shakhtar star’s actions should not be taken as clue as to his potential destination in January.

He said: ‘The good thing is that in England you don’t have many other matches in other countries.

‘We are the only ones playing through Christmas so hopefully a lot people have watched our game and we give them a good show.’

Asked for a response to speculation that Arsenal have launched an opening offer, Arteta added: ‘You know I never speak about players that are not with us and I know in this transfer market you have to ask me the question.

‘We said we will try and find ways to strengthen the team and we will try and find the right players.’

Romano reacts to reports Arsenal have held talks over Milinkovic-Savic

Fabrizio Romano has told the House of Champions podcast that Lazio sources have told him that they expect Arsenal target Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to stay until the end of the season at the very least.

The Gunners are stepping up their push to strengthen their squad in January. They are reportedly working on a potential deal for Mykhaylo Mudryk. And it seems that they are also looking at potential signings in the middle of the park.

Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images

Reports from Corriere dello Sport have claimed that Arsenal are on pole position to sign Milinkovic-Savic. They have been in contact with his agent about a potential deal for the Lazio star. His representative apparently believes the Serbia international is worth around £44 million.

Romano provides update amid Arsenal links with Milinkovic-Savic

The report suggested that the 27-year-old has changed his mind on the idea of potentially joining Arsenal, having previously rejected Mikel Arteta’s men.

Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images

Romano was asked about the possibility of Milinkovic-Savic leaving Rome in one of the coming windows. The transfer guru insisted that there has been no offers from the Premier League leaders.

And he also suggested that any supporter hoping to see him rock up at the Emirates in January is set for disappointment.

“It’s not an easy one at all to sign Milinkovic-Savic in January. I was speaking to Lazio sources a few days ago and they are 100 percent convinced that the player will stay there, at least, until the end of the season. Then he’s out of contract the next year, 2024, and this is why there are many rumours around Milinkovic-Savic,” he told House of Champions.

“They have not received any approach, from Arsenal or any other club.”

Move was always going to be difficult in January

There is always a feel around a transfer which provides the slightest hint to outsiders regarding whether it will be possible or not.

For many, the Mudryk move seems entirely possible with Arsenal already making a bid. And he has made no secret of his admiration for the Gunners.

Signing Milinkovic-Savic however, seems a much taller order for Edu and Arteta. He is one of the most in-form midfielders in Europe right now. FBRef compares him with the likes of Jude Bellingham and Kevin De Bruyne.

Lazio are going to do all they can to keep him next month. And even if they received a world-record sum, there are no guarantees that they would be able to find a way to replace him.

So surely, this is one of those moves that will be on the back-burner until the summer. But if Arsenal go on and win the title, their chances of securing his signature will surely increase significantly.

SOURCE: metro.co.uk