Arsenal boost as Ornstein predicts Shakhtar will crack in €100m Mudryk fight 'when push comes to a head'

Athletic's David Ornstein has predicted that Shakhtar Donetsk will eventually accept a bid of less than €100m for Arsenal target Mykhaylo Mudryk.

The 21-year-old has become one of Europe's top young talents and his value has skyrocketed in recent months.

Everton attempted to sign him for around €30m in the summer ahead of his excellent Champions League performances this season.

Mudryk was involved in five goals in six games during the group stages of the competition as Shakhtar ultimately failed to qualify.

Arsenal have joined the race to sign Mudryk in recent weeks and the player has made it clear he wants the transfer to happen.

A priority for the Gunners is to sign a new winger in January after failing to secure one during the summer.

Arsenal and the player want the deal done, but a potential stumbling block is Shakhtar's huge asking price.

The Ukrainian side have publicly stated that they value the youngster at around 100 million euros.

But reports from elsewhere suggest they "will instead accept offers of around 60 million euros".

Ornstein is as accurate a reporter as you can get when it comes to transfers and he suspects Shakhtar are 'going to drop in price' during the winter transfer window.

"Mudryk is the player they [Arsenal] want to sign. They have been following him for a long time," Ornstein told Hayters TV.

"He was on their list of potential candidates during the summer transfer window. They are in talks with Shakhtar, with the player's representatives.

"Shakhtar has publicly stated that they want 100 million euros [for Mudryk].

"Arsenal won't want to go that high, I don't think any club will.

"I think Shakhtar's price is likely to drop when the going gets tough."

Ornstein added, "Some people you talk to in the industry think they'll get there.

"The Kroenkes are backing Edu and Mikel Arteta to make that final big effort in the last six months of the season to try and win the title."

Gabriel Jesus is expected to be out for a few months with a knee injury. Now Reiss Nelson was injured in Arsenal's friendly against Juventus at the weekend.

Speaking after the match, Mikel Arteta claimed that Nelson's injury won't 'change plans' for January.

"We don't know the extent of the injury," Arteta said on Saturday.

"The fact that he had to leave the pitch immediately is not good news, especially for someone like Reiss, who is really powerful and fast.

"Let's see what happens. We know what we need to do and that hasn't changed plans."

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