Arsenal are preparing for a busy January transfer window with a new attacker and central midfielder thought to be on the club’s agenda. Mikel Arteta was keen to add more signings to his squad in the summer transfer window after the Gunners had spent over £100million for a second successive year.
Cody Gakpo and Mykhaylo Mudryk have both been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium in the new year. football.london understands Arsenal hold a long-term interest in Gakpo, with reports elsewhere suggesting they could face competition from Manchester United and Liverpool for his signature.
Mudryk has previously admitted that he would struggle to ‘say no’ to Arsenal if they were to make an offer for his services. Shakhtar Donetsk are said to have slapped an £80million price tag on their star forward, who has been labelled the ‘Ukrainian Neymar’ due to his electric pace and amazing dribbling ability.
Gakpo has impressed for the Netherlands at the World Cup in Qatar, having now registered 35 goal contributions for club and country so far this season. Former Chelsea star Joe Cole believes Arsenal transfer target Gakpo is also worth £80million.
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Mudryk, who has also been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium, is valued at a similar price than Cole suggested Gakpo could cost. Speaking on ITV’s coverage after Gakpo helped the Netherlands win 2-0 against Qatar to qualify for the World Cup round of 16 stage, Cole said: “He [Gakpo] would’ve gone into this tournament at the top of all the databases of all the top clubs.
I know there’s been scouts watching him. He’s come to the tournament, he’s fearless, great movement for the goal, fantastic finishing, he’s going to be high on everybody’s wish list.”
Former Netherlands international Nigel de Jong asked Cole whether Gakpo is worth £80million, despite PSV reportedly being open to accepting a fee around half of that price. Cole responded: “I would [pay £80million for Gakpo], 100% because he’s young.
“We know there’s a value on youth because you’re buying in, if it don’t quite work out you’re gonna cut your losses elsewhere but he looks like the real deal. I know it’s Qatar, I know it’s not one of the stronger nations.
“Ecuador he scored, Senegal he scored, he affects the game, and players that affect the game that’s where the value is. I really like him, I liked what I’ve seen of him at PSV and I’m sure there will be some offers on the door at PSV in January.”
Edu has a decision to make as to whether to pursue a deal for Gakpo or Mudryk, but the Gunners are expected to face serious competition from top clubs in the Premier League and across Europe for both players. Gakpo’s value could continue to rise if keeps performing well out in Qatar after he was previously available for just £40million in the summer, despite rejecting a move to Old Trafford.
