Arsenal-linked attacker Mykhaylo Mudryk has been left "very upset" with the news that Shakhtar Donetsk are reportedly after €100m (£87.5m) to sell him.
The 21-year-old has burst onto the scene with the Ukrainian side this year, registering eight goals and eight assists in 16 matches in all tournaments this term.
Mudryk has come up with three goals and two assists in six Champions League outings, while also hitting five strikes and six assists in 10 Premier Liga matches.
Arsenal are thought to be one of a number of sides interested in a deal for Mudryk, who recently talked up the prospect of a switch to North London in the future.
Manchester United and Newcastle United have also been linked with a move for Mudryk, who only signed a new long-term deal with Shakhtar in February, and those terms are not due to expire until December 2026.
© Reuters
As a result, Shakhtar can afford to demand a mammoth fee in order to sanction a sale, and the Ukrainian giants are said to be after a whopping €100m (£87.5m) to enter business with interested parties.
However, with Mudryk 'dreaming' of a move to a top European club in the future, he has admitted the news was a "shock" to hear, and he believes his career ambitions have been "wounded" as a result.
"When I found out about my price, I wasn't just surprised – I was shocked," Mudryk told Sport Arena. "I have a long-term contract with Shakhtar [set to expire in December 2026], I give all my strength and energy so that Shakhtar achieves maximum results... but every football player has a dream to play in a top club and in a top championship - I am no exception.
"But I am 100 per cent sure that they are unlikely to buy a player from the championship of Ukraine for 100 million... I will not hide that I was very upset. The amount of 100 million puts a barrier for my transition to the top championship, which I so dreamed of. I can't say that my dream was killed, but wounded - that's for sure."
Mudryk recently spoke with Vlada Sedan - the wife of current Arsenal left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko - during which he confirmed that he would be open to a move to Arsenal under the right conditions.
"Yeah. I check on them on MyScore and know when they're playing I can check on them," Mudryk 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.
© Reuters
"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.
"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."
While refusing to put a number on Mudryk's price tag, Shakhtar director Dario Srna has affirmed to The Athletic that his side will hold out for a "huge" sum of money to part ways with the attacker.
"If somebody wants to buy Mudryk, they must pay huge, huge, huge money. Otherwise the president of the club (Rinat Akhmetov) will not sell him," Srna said.
"All the clubs must respect the President, respect Shakhtar and in the end they must respect Mykhaylo Mudryk, who is one of the best players I saw. The price is so big."
Mudryk joined the youth system at Shakhtar in 2016 and has since registered 10 goals and 17 assists in 42 senior games for the club, as well as winning the Ukrainian Cup in the 2018-19 season.
Ben Knapton
