Andrew Mangan joined Nathan Murphy on The Football Show to discuss Arsenal.
Arsenal want Mykhailo Mudryk.
And now that Chelsea have loanded Joao Felix for the remainder of the season, it appears that they are the only team left in the race. But just because Arsenal want Mudryk doesn't mean the deal will be done quickly. Andrew Mangan of Arseblog explained to Nathan Murphy that Arsenal are negotiating add-on fees because of how much money Shakhtar Donetsk want.
This is a move that fits Arsenal's transfer policy.
Mudryk is somewhat of a risk. That's because he's 22 years of age and has never played professional football outside of Ukraine. Mudryk would be facing a steep test in the Premier League, especially joining halfway through the season, to a team that is leading the league and looking to fill in for Gabriel Jesus immediately.
But Arsenal no longer sign stop-gap veterans. They instead focus on younger, riskier prospects such as Mudryk. And so far it has worked out.
"[Arteta and Edu] have earned that trust," Mangan said.
"Not all of the deals have been good. And with every club there are transfers that are hit-and-miss. But Arsenal made a very, very obvious decision to change the way they did business. Deals like David Luiz, like Willian, players who were coming in as a bit of a sticking plaster. To help try and just get over the line...those kind of signings are gone by the way side."
Mangan explains that Arsenal made a very conscious decision to go for younger players after failing to build a team with those veterans. And for the most part, it has worked out.
"I think the big money signings have delivered. People were questioning the amount of money Arsenal were paying for Aaron Ramsdale. It turned out to be worth it. They questioned the amount of money Arsenal were going to pay for Ben White. It looks like a snip at this moment in time.
"I suspect that they're probably going to have to pay a little bit more than they're comfortable with for Mudryk. Simply because of how obstinate (might be the word) Shakhtar are when it comes to his fee.
"The question will be how much of that fee is upfront and how much is going to be in incentives and add-ons. And I think that's where the impasse is at this moment in time because he is still relatively inexperienced...players like Cody Gakpo for example have gone to Liverpool for much less than what they're asking.
"I think they'll get there in the end but it's just quite how much it's going to cost."
Tottenham and Qatar are a marriage of convenience.
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