Shakhtar Donetsk boss Igor Jovicevic has called for Mykhaylo Mudryk to remain with the Ukrainian giants amid the ongoing speculation surrounding his future.
The 21-year-old has been in impressive form for Shakhtar during the 2022-23 campaign, scoring 10 goals and registering eight assists in 18 appearances in all competitions.
Mudryk has seven goals and six assists in 12 league outings this term, in addition to scoring three goals and registering two assists in six appearances in the group stage of the Champions League.
Arsenal are believed to be in a strong position to sign the Ukraine international next year, but Jovicevic has insisted that Shakhtar's star player would be better off continuing his development at the club.
"This management will decide what to do when there is an option to sell a football player, the star of the team," Jovicevic told reporters.
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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, (Josko) Gvardiol, who plays for Leipzig and today played in the World Cup [for Croatia], the Spaniard Dani Olmo, who played in Zagreb.
"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."
Mudryk recently said that he was "very upset" to learn that Shakhtar had placed a €100m (£87.5m) valuation on his shoulders in a bid to put off interested clubs.
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"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% 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."
Manchester United and Newcastle United have also been credited with an interest in the attacker due to his impressive form during the current season, but Arsenal are seemingly at the head of the queue.
Mudryk, who has a contract with Shakhtar until December 2026, has scored 12 goals and registered 17 assists in 44 appearances for his current side in all competitions.
Matt Law
