CHELSEA have HIJACKED Arsenal's move for Myhailo Mudryk with some major developments last night.
The Blues moved quickly to hijack the deal from under the nose of Mikel Arteta's Gunners.
The latest now is that Mudryk is now in London for his Blues medical with the deal all-but confirmed and will be at Chelsea's clash against Crystal Palace.
Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a boost as Dejan Kulusevski is expected to be available to face the Gunners today in the HUGE derby.
And Arsenal are interested in signing Ismaël Bennacer from AC Milan, it has been reported.
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- Kiro Evans
Good morning Arsenal fans
The Gunners have lost out in the battle for the 'Ukrainian Neymar' Mykhailo Mudryk to rivals Chelsea.
The Blues launched a last-ditch hijack – snatching the forward in a stunning £97million deal.Fabrizio Romano has confirmed the move with his ‘Here we go’ catchphrase.
He tweeted: “Mykhaylo Mudryk to Chelsea, here we go! Documents are being exchanged between Chelsea and Shakhtar. Deal will cost €100m package as Ukrainian club always wanted.”
“Mudryk, arriving in London tonight. Medical tests booked on Sunday then he will sign contract until 2030.”
Chelsea have now released their own statement, as per Fabrizio Romano.
He tweeted: “Chelsea are discussing terms with Shakhtar for Mudryk. Should a deal be agreed between the two clubs then the Ukrainian international will discuss personal terms with the Blues ahead of a permanent transfer”.
Like many Arsenal fans, Piers Morgan has been left frustrated by the club missing out on top transfer target Mykhaylo Mudryk.
The Sun columnist wrote on Twitter: “I’m irrationally annoyed about this Mudryk fiasco.
“If Arsenal want to win the League this season, we can’t faff around for weeks on key targets and then get outflanked/outbid at the last minute.
“Looks weak. We must buy another top class striker asap.”
Elsewhere target Ismael Bennacer could be available for just €50m in the summer of 2024, according to Calciomercato. The midfielder was with the Gunners as a youngster, before moving for first team football elsewhere. He has since excelled at AC Milan – signing an extension to his contract in 2023.
However, a clause in that deal reportedly claims that clubs outside Serie A can buy him for a set fee.
- Jon Boon
Chelsea 'bullied' Arsenal for Mudryk
Gabby Agbonlahor believes Arsenal were financially bullied by Chelsea in the chase for Shakhtar Donetsk star Mykhailo Mudryk.
“With this transfer, Chelsea have bullied Arsenal, they have financially bullied them,” the talkSPORT presenter said.
“They went over and spoke to his agent and probably told him, ‘We’ll give you [the agent] more, we’ll give the player more in wages and we’ll give the club more money up front’.
“Arsenal were maybe going to give him £100,000 or £150,000-a-week, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Chelsea offered him £250,000 or £300,000-a-week!
“Chelsea can just turn up with an open wallet and say, ‘What do you want?’
“I think it’s a good signing, but it’s going to hurt Arsenal and it’s going to hurt Arsenal fans.”
- Jon Boon
Partey comparison
Arsenal legend Tony Adams has compared Thomas Partey to former team-mates Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit.
Adams told The Sun: “He’s Patrick Vieira and Manu Petit rolled into one and I’m loath to bring attention to how well he’s playing because I feel Arsenal have been getting away with it. If you don’t put someone on him, he will dictate the game because he breaks things up for fun and gets the whole team playing.
"Having Partey playing every week after all his injury problems has released Martin Odegaard and means we don’t have that crazy thing with Granit Xhaka trying to drop in at left-back to provide cover any more.”
- Jon Boon
Piers is annoyed
Like many Arsenal fans, Piers Morgan has been left frustrated by the club missing out on top transfer target Mykhaylo Mudryk.
The Sun columnist wrote on Twitter: "I’m irrationally annoyed about this Mudryk fiasco.
"If Arsenal want to win the League this season, we can’t faff around for weeks on key targets and then get outflanked/outbid at the last minute.
"Looks weak. We must buy another top class striker asap."
- Jon Boon
Done deal
Arsenal have officially missed out on Mykhaylo Mudryk now, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Italian journalist has confirmed with his 'Here we go' catchphrase it's a done deal.
He tweeted: "Mykhaylo Mudryk to Chelsea, here we go! Documents are being exchanged between Chelsea and Shakhtar. Deal will cost €100m package as Ukrainian club always wanted."
"Mudryk, arriving in London tonight. Medical tests booked on Sunday then he will sign contract until 2030."
- Jon Boon
Shakhtar statement on Mudryk
Shakhtar Donetsk have confirmed that Chelsea are 'close' to sealing a deal for Mykhailo Mudryk.
They wrote on Twitter: "FC Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov and Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali discussed Mykhailo Mudryk’s transfer to Chelsea FC today.
"Parties are very close to agree on player’s transfer to the club."
- Jon Boon
Bidding war
According to Telegraph, Arsenal do not want to entertain a bidding war with Chelsea for Mykhaylo Mudryk.
Senior members in the Arsenal board are also "taken aback" by the Blues bid.
Journalist Sam Dean tweeted: "Arsenal were never going to be drawn into a bidding war with Chelsea for Mudryk.
"They had a valuation in mind and they would not go over it. Understand #AFC have been taken aback by the size/nature of Chelsea's bid."
- Jon Boon
More Mudryk clarification
Fabrizio Romano has claimed Mykhaylo Mudryk is flying to London, after Chelsea have had a sensational £88million bid accepted for the Ukraine winger.
Romano wrote on Twitter: "Understand Mykhaylo Mudryk is now on a plane flying to London. His future enters into key, final stages as Chelsea have offered contract valid until June 2030."
He added: "Chelsea hope to get it sealed this weekend. Arsenal keep their position, bid made to Mudryk won’t change." - Jon Boon
Mudryk blow
Arsenal have reportedly lost out on the signing of Mykhailo Mudryk, according to reports.
Well-connected journalist David Ornstein took to the Twitter to write: "Chelsea have reached an agreement with Shakhtar Donetsk for Mykhailo Mudryk. €70m + €30m add-ons. 7+ year contract agreed. Leaving Turkey for London to undergo medical. Not signed yet but done deal."
Over to Mudryk now for the final say.
- Jon Boon
Bennacer fee
Arsenal target Ismael Bennacer could be available for just €50m in the summer of 2024, according to Calciomercato.
The midfielder was with the Gunners as a youngster, before moving for first team football elsewhere.
He has since excelled at AC Milan – signing an extension to his contract in 2023.
However, a clause in that deal reportedly claims that clubs outside Serie A can buy him for a set fee.
- Alex Smith
How could Arsenal line-up vs Spurs
Bukayo Saka is set to be fit for Sunday's crunch North London Derby clash against Tottenham.
The 21-year-old went off injured in the 3-0 FA Cup win over Oxford on Monday.
But when quizzed on Saka's fitness ahead of Sunday's mammoth clash against Spurs, Mikel Arteta said: "I think he will be okay."
- Alex Smith
Price tag put on Vlahovic
Juventus have slapped a sensational price tag of striker Dusan Vlahovic.
The player was targeted by Arsenal a year ago but he opted to join the Serie A side from Fiorentina for £63million.
Now, Vlahovic can be signed for £98million with clubs, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport report.
Chelsea are rumoured to be keen as are Liverpool but the big price could put them off.
Juve have supposedly lined up a move for RB Salzburg's Noah Okafor in case they do sell the Serbian No.9.
- Alex Smith
Edu flies out to complete Mudryk move
Arsenal transfer chief Edu has flown out to Poland to conclude a deal for Mykhailo Mudryk, according to outlet Sport Arena.
He is apparently there to thrash out the final details with an £80m moved proposed.
Last week, Shakhtar director Darijo Srna was spotted in London.
- Alex Smith
Chelsea make last-ditch Mudryk attempt
Chelsea have made a last-gasp move to hijack Arsenal's proposed transfer for Mykhailo Mudryk.
Blues owner Todd Boehly has reportedly held direct talks with the player in the last 12 hours.
It is believed that Chelsea's package is worth more than Arsenal's but the Gunners already have an agreement with Mudryk himself.
- Alex Smith
Romero spices up derby
Christian Romero deepened his affection from the Tottenham faithful with the way he referred to rivals Arsenal.
He perhaps played some mind games in an interview, in which he refused to name Arsenal, instead simply using "them" and "they" to refer to Mikel Arteta's side.
With him not naming the Gunners, Spurs fans were enamoured by Romero.
Taking to Twitter, one user said: "That's our boy."
A second declared: "I love this man."
A third said: "Good don’t even speak there name."
- Alex Smith
Last victory at Spurs
Arsenal are hoping to win away at Tottenham in the Premier League for the first time in nine years on Sunday.
The Gunners go into the crunch North London derby 11 points clear of their arch-rivals and top of the table.
But they have a wretched record away at Spurs in the league, drawing two and losing six of their last trips down the Seven Sisters Road.
However, in March 2014, the Gunners recorded a 1-0 win at White Hart Lane which kept their title dreams alive.
Tomas Rosicky's excellent second-minute finish proved the difference for Arsene Wenger's side.
Rosicky started in the base of midfield with now-manager Mikel Arteta.
- Alex Smith
Okonkwo nears new loan move
Arsenal's young goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo is nearing a move to Austrian side Sturm Graz, according to reports from The Athletic.
The 21-year-old has been brilliant for Crewe in League Two, keeping ten clean sheets this season and he is ready to step up.
The deal is nearing completion, Sturm Graz were narrowly knocked out of the Europa League in the group stages and are going for the title in Austria.
- Alex Smith
Gunners fans trolled
After Shakhtar's cryptic posts relating to Mykhailo Mudryk, many thought perhaps today was the day he was going to be announced.
Fans exclaimed "stop teasing us" as the Ukrainian side hinted at news about their winger on Twitter.
In the end, it was not the announcement Arsenal fans were hoping for.
Mudryk has been given the team's player of the year award and there has been no official statement that he has departed the club yet.
Gooners now see the funny side, one said: "Lol you know what, I respect the way you're pulling us along. Fair play."
Another called the award a "leaving present".
- Alex Smith
Crypt-yk
Mykhailo Mudryk is no stranger to a cryptic social media post amid rumours about him joining Arsenal.
He has posted praying emojis and photo-shopped images of himself in a Gunners kit in the background of another upload.
But now Shakhtar Donestk are teasing fans too.
They tweeted news about their winter tour and then said "There is more interesting stuff coming up."
This has then been followed by a tweet that reads simply as "Mudryk?" alongside a questioning face emoji.
- Alex Smith
Mudryk coming soon
Arsenal are reportedly confident of landing Mykhailo Mudryk in time to face Manchester United next weekend.
The Gunners have had two bids rejected already for the 22-year-old by Shakhtar Donetsk.
A third offer worth around £62million plus add-ons was lodged.
However, Shakhtar wanted a larger fee up front for their star, now the North London club are prepared to break the bank with a club record £84m bid.
Despite Shakhtar wanting a larger fee up front for their star, “there is an acceptance” a deal will be concluded soon.
- Alex Smith
Newcastle to battle Arsenal for Neves
Newcastle are reportedly interested in Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves.
Neves’ Wolves contract expires at the end of next season.
And the Portuguese ace is on Newcastle’s wishlist, according to the Daily Mail.
However, as it stands there has been no contact with Wolves or with Neves‘ representatives.
But Toon are thought to be keen on signing a holding midfielder this month.
Neves has previously been linked with Arsenal and Barcelona.
- Alex Smith
Arsenal target to join Forest
Arsenal were reportedly keeping tabs on Danilo and were linked with the Palmeiras midfielder in the summer.
But it appears that the Gunners are set to miss out on him as he is nearing a move to Nottingham Forest for £18m.
Central midfield is an area Mikel Arteta wants to strengthen amid rumours with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic .
- Alex Smith
Arteta to discuss behaviour
Mikel Arteta has admitted that he will "have conversations" with his players after the club picked up to FA charges in two games for "failing to ensure players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion".
Ahead of the North London derby tomorrow, Antonio Conte has said he wants both teams to respect referee Craig Pawson.
Conte said: "I like, in an important game like this, [to see] the respect is always at the top
"You have to show respect in every situation and especially also with the referee because I know very well the difficulty to be a referee, to take decisions.
"I think to intimidate or to create a bad atmosphere is not fair. I don't like this. I hate the people that try to do it."
- Alex Smith
Saka the best?
Arsenal hero Tony Adams believes that Bukayo Saka should be named PFA Player of the Year at the end of the season.
Saka has been in exceptional form this term, scoring six goals and getting six assists in 17 league games.
However, the favourite for the award is Manchester City's goal machine Erling Haaland.
- Alex Smith
Adams likes to Partey
Tony Adams has compared Thomas Partey to former Arsenal midfield greats Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit.
Adams said: "Any defence is only as good as the protection from in front and my player of the season so far is Thomas Partey, because he’s been out of this world.
“He’s Patrick Vieira and Manu Petit rolled into one and I’m loath to bring attention to how well he’s playing because I feel Arsenal have been getting away with it.
“If you don’t put someone on him, he will dictate the game because he breaks things up for fun and gets the whole team playing."
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