Arsenal retain an fascination in Mykhaylo Mudryk – the Shakhtar Donetsk winger dubbed the “Ukrainian Neymar”, but they have a Approach B in case they are priced out of a move for the 21-calendar year-outdated.
Mudryk was shut to signing up for Arsenal very last January and he has spoken effusively of the Gunners considering that that transfer fell as a result of, telling CBS Sports activities just lately that: “My dream is to engage in in Premier League, of class. Arsenal are a quite good team, pretty good manager – so from my aspect, I are not able to say no to Arsenal!”
But Mudryk has presently scored 2 times and laid on two much more goals in just five appearances in all competitions for Shakhtar this season, and the Ukrainian aspect are recognized to have slapped a €50 million asking rate on their talented youngster.
Villarreal’s Alex Baena with some wonderful improvisation 🤸♂️#UECL pic.twitter.com/1V0PKbTxR7
— Soccer on BT Activity (@btsportfootball) September 15, 2022
Villarreal’s Alex Baena has emerged as a prospective option, with Mikel Arteta eager to convey his compatriot to the Emirates just after a blistering start out to the season in Spain.
“Alex Baena has stood out at the start off of this season with Villarreal,” writes Spanish every day, Activity. “He has turn out to be a person of the club’s best gamers and is the team’s top scorer with six goals. The 21-12 months-old midfielder could head to England, becoming a member of just one of the intrigued groups these as Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal.”
Arteta’s romance with previous Gunners manager Unai Emery is most likely to clean negotiations with Villarreal – the former sought the latter’s suggestions ahead of getting the Arsenal task in 2019 and Emery later explained it as “the perfect marriage” – but even if the fee climbs up to Baena’s €35m launch clause, that would continue to be a €15m preserving on Mudryk.
How great is Baena?
A right-footed left winger, Baena is capable of enjoying across the front line and would present some welcome competitors for Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard at Arsenal must he make the transfer in January.
A Spain under-21 international, Baena experienced a breakout marketing campaign on loan at Girona very last season and his six goals and two helps in all competitions for Villarreal in the recent marketing campaign have appear in at a amount of one particular every single 69 minutes he has played.
With swift toes and an even more quickly footballing intellect currently, Arteta will be confident of moulding Baena into a popular Premier League ahead, and €35m could confirm a steal.
