Arsenal transfer target Mykhailo Mudryk has been told by Shakhtar Donetsk manager Igor Jovicevic that he would love him to stay at the club.
Mudryk, 21, has caught the eye of many European giants over the last few months and Arsenal appear to be leading the way to sign the young forward.
The Ukrainian has scored three goals and contributed two assists in his six Champions League appearances this season.
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Mikel Arteta's men sit top of the Premier League table and are likely to want to add depth in the January transfer window to continue their title charge.
What has Shakhtar's manager said?
Speaking after Shakhtar’s final match before the World Cup break, he said: "This management will decide what to do when there is an option to sell a football player, the star of the team.
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"As a coach, of course, I would like such a player to play as long as possible in the team, to build a quality Shakhtar around him, so that everyone gains momentum, gains experience and does what, perhaps, the team once did in the Champions League.
"With our efforts, talent and ambition, I think we could do it together eventually. They are young, I say again, young.
"There are several football players in Dinamo (Zagreb), for example, Guardiol, who plays for Leipzig and today played in the World Cup [for Croatia], the Spaniard Dani Olmo, who played in Zagreb.
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"Each of them played at least 100 matches for the club and only then moved from the intermediate club, and not immediately to Barcelona and Manchester City.
"This is one small example of how to build your career correctly, so that you reach the highest level already ready, powerful. To be able to say 'I'm here.'
"However, the coach is always a bit selfish and wants to have quality players in his team as long as possible to give results and excitement to the fans."
Topics: Arsenal, Champions League, Transfers, Football
Brad Cox