Chelsea step up efforts to hijack Arsenal's bid for Mudryk with Shakhtar talks to be held this week

Chelsea are preparing to potentially hijack Arsenal's move for Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk this week, according to a new report.

Arsenal have made Mudryk their priority target for the January window, as per The Athletic's David Ornstein, and have already submitted two bids for the player.

The first bid, comprising of a €40 million (£35.2m) initial fee plus €25m (£22m) in add-ons, was rejected by Shakhtar. Their asking price is believed to be close to £100 million.

That would break Arsenal's incoming transfer record, set when Nicolas Pepe joined from Lille for £72 million in 2019.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed on Monday that the Gunners have submitted an improved second bid, said to involve a €50m (£44m) fee plus add-ons.

However, in news that no Arsenal fan will want to hear, another club appears to have joined the race for Mudryk.

Chelsea 'keen on signing Mykhaylo Mudryk'

Initial reports of Chelsea's interest in Mudryk, who has scored 10 goals in 16 appearances this term, were carried by The Guardian last week, who claimed that the Blues were keen on signing the 21-year-old.

But the situation appears to have developed, with The Sun's Jack Rosser now reporting that the Blues are in talks with Shakhtar over a deal.

Rosser claims that Darijo Srna, a current director of the club and former right-back, is expected to meet with Chelsea chiefs in London this week.

Graham Potter's side have already been busy in the January window, completing the signing of David Datro Fofana, whilst Andrey Santos is also set to join the club.

In addition, RB Leipzig's Christopher Nkunku has agreed a deal to move to Stamford Bridge in July, as per Romano.

They have also been heavily linked with Benfica and Argentina star Enzo Fernandez, with BBC Sport reporting that they are in talks with the Portuguese giants over the signing.

The 21-year-old, however, has a release clause of £106 million, and if Chelsea do pay that fee in full, it remains to be seen whether they would be able to sign Mudryk too.

Arsenal supporters, meanwhile, will be hoping their club can wrap up a deal for the Ukrainian as quickly as possible.