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Shakhtar Donetsk manager Darijo Srna is pictured sitting a few rows across from Todd Boehly at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea attempt to hijack Arsenal’s £85m Mykhailo Mudryk move.
Shakhtar Donetsk manager Darijo Srna was seen at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea try to hijack a move for Arsenal target Mykhailo Mudryk.
Ukrainian side Shakhtar are expected to reject Arsenal’s improved offer for star winger Mudryk as they look to use Chelsea’s interest to their advantage.
Srna was in London to discuss a deal for the £85m talent and was present for Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat by Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.
Shakhtar Donetsk manager Darijo Srna was pictured at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
It comes after Srna (centre) met former Arsenal striker Eduardo (left) and former Chelsea winger Willian (right) in London.
Ukrainian Shakhtar are expected to reject Arsenal’s second improved offer of £62m for Mudryk and use interest from Chelsea to their advantage as they look to set up a bidding war.
It will be a concern for Arsenal, with Srna sitting just a few rows across from Chelsea owner Todd Boehly, who is keen to strengthen his team during the January transfer window.
The search for the 21-year-old Ukrainian is heating up, and Srna had already had people talking earlier Thursday after he was photographed having coffee with Eduardo, a former Arsenal striker, and Willian, who played for both clubs but had a much more successful spell at Chelsea.
Talks with Chelsea are underway over the next 24 hours with Shakhtar chief executive Sergei Palkin and Srna, both in London.
Srna, a stalwart of the club, however, has family in London and the couple of Brazilian origin, Eduardo and Willian, are former teammates of his at the Ukrainian giants, which could explain their reunion.
Arsenal made an improved offer of £45m which was increased to £62m for Mudryk who has maintained he wants to join Arsenal but Shakhtar have said they want closer to £85m if not more, and the presence of Chelsea in the talks could bring the offers closer to that figure
Mudryk is Gunners boss Mikel Arteta’s main target this month and Arsenal have made two offers for the 22-year-old Ukrainian winger. The first, believed to be worth around £52m, was rejected by Shakhtar, who publicly valued Mudryk at around £88m.
The Ukrainian striker is Mikel Arteta’s main transfer target in the January transfer window
Arsenal returned with an improved offer, understood to be worth up to £62m, and there was optimism that a deal would be struck in this transfer window.
But now they could face competition from Chelsea, who are believed to be exploring a possible move for Mudryk. It is believed that they are more likely to spend on Mudryk if their potential £100m+ move for Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez falls through.
Sources in Ukraine said sports mail that, with CEO Palkin now speaking to both clubs, Shakhtar is likely to reject Arsenal’s improved offer as he remains “far” from his £88m target.
Shakhtar are believed to value Mudryk at around €100m (£88m) and Chelsea are also interested.
Shakhtar sees Jack Grealish’s £100m transfer to Manchester City and Antony’s £85m transfer to Manchester United as a barometer of any fee for Mudryk, who has shined so far this season.
Srna, Shakhtar’s director of football, is in England for talks in the coming days. The Croatian visits London quite regularly, sports mail understands, because his family lives in the English capital.
Chelsea are not believed to have made their own offer for Mudryk as it stands, but their interest could drive up his price. This despite the fact that the winger made clear his desire to join Arsenal.
Shakhtar sees Jack Grealish’s £100m transfer to Manchester City and Antony’s £85m transfer to Man United as a barometer for any fee for Mudryk, who was described as a potential Ballon d’Or winner by his former manager. Robert DeZerbi.