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Manchester United to rival Arsenal, Newcastle United for Mykhaylo Mudryk?

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 15 November 2022

Man United to rival Arsenal, Newcastle for Mykhaylo Mudryk?

Manchester United reportedly prepare to rival Arsenal and Newcastle United for Shakhtar Donetsk and Ukraine attacker Mykhaylo Mudryk.

Manchester United are reportedly the latest club to show an interest in signing Shakhtar Donetsk attacker Mykhaylo Mudryk.

The 21-year-old has burst onto the scene with the Ukrainian side this season, posting eight goals and eight assists from 16 appearances in all competitions.

Mudryk has particularly caught the eye in the Champions League, scoring against Celtic and RB Leipzig, as well as contributing to 11 goals in 10 league matches.

The Ukraine international has long been linked with a switch to Arsenal, who are expected to be in the market for a new winger in the January transfer window, while Newcastle have also been credited with an interest.

Now, The Sun claims that Man United are also keeping a close eye on Mudryk's development, having sent scouts to monitor his performances across Europe this season.

Mykhaylo Mudryk celebrates scoring for Shakhtar Donetsk against Celtic on October 25, 2022 © Reuters

Erik ten Hag has supposedly had positive feelings about the winger since his Ajax days, but Shakhtar are under little pressure to sell for a cut-price fee given his contract situation.

Mudryk is contracted to the Ukrainian giants until the summer of 2026 after penning an extension in February, and the report adds that Man United are not expected to move for the attacker in January given their significant summer outlay.

Mudryk has spent his entire senior career at Shakhtar after joining their youth ranks in 2016, scoring 10 goals and setting up 17 more in 42 appearances for the club.

The 21-year-old has also earned eight caps for his country, and he recently talked up a potential move to Arsenal when questioned on his future during an interview.

Mudryk was speaking to Vlada Sedan - the wife of current Arsenal left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko - and said that he regularly keeps track of the Gunners' scores.

Shakhtar Donetsk's Mykhailo Mudryk in action with Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger on October 11, 2022 © Reuters

"Yeah. I check on them on MyScore and know when they're playing I can check on them," the Shakhtar attacker told Sedan's YouTube channel. "I also watch them too. They are a very dynamic side, in general not just in controlling possession but also in scoring goals."

Mudryk also affirmed that he would rather start for Arsenal than sit on the bench for Real Madrid, but he insisted that such a scenario was purely hypothetical.

"From a purely hypothetical perspective if there was the option of being a bench player for Real Madrid or a starter for Arsenal, I'd probably choose Arsenal," Mudryk added.

"But it's a tough question and involves a lot of factors in my answer. I would first want to know from the head coach that even if I wasn't a guaranteed starter, that I'd receive a chance."

Man United currently boast Antony, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Anthony Elanga and Alejandro Garnacho as their wide options, but Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to leave in January after launching a scathing attack on the club in a recent interview with Piers Morgan.