"A whole lot harder.." - Journalist who interviewed Mudryk drops key update over Arsenal's bid to sign winger

Arsenal are locked in intense negotiations with Shakhtar Donetsk over winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, according to a journalist that recently interviewed the Ukraine international.

Arsenal are working on a deal to sign Mudryk in January, having made the Shakhtar winger their top priority in the transfer market.

The 21-year-old is wanted by several clubs after scoring 10 goals and providing eight assists in 18 games for Shakhtar this season.

The Ukrainian club are under no pressure to sell, with Mudryk contracted to them until 2026.

It is likely to take a significant offer to convince Shakhtar to part ways with their prize asset, with director of football Darijo Srna claiming in October that Mudryk is worth €100m (£85.7m).

CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs, who interviewed Mudryk in September, says Arsenal will have no problem convincing the winger to join.

However, he claims the Gunners might struggle to get Shakhtar to sell in January.

"Arsenal have made the move on Mudryk in the sense that they are now in talks with both Shakhtar and Mudryk’s representatives," Jacobs told GiveMeSport.

"The talks with Mudryk's representatives are easy because Mudryk wants Arsenal; the negotiations with Shakhtar are a whole lot harder."

Mudryk determined to move to Arsenal

Writing in The Athletic, transfer expert David Ornstein says Mudryk is keen to move to the Premier League and "determined to make the Emirates his destination".

Mudryk was recently spotted in Dubai at the same time as the Arsenal squad, who were in the United Arab Emirates on a warm-weather training camp.

He has already expressed his admiration for Arsenal's style of play under Arteta, revealing in a recent interview that he looks out for their results.

"I check on them in 'myscore' and know when they're playing I can check on them," Mudryk said in an interview with Vlada Zinchenko, the wife of Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko.

"I also watch them too. (Arsenal are) a very dynamic side, in general not just in controlling possession but also in scoring goals."

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