Arsenal told Murdyk transfer will cost MORE than £85m Man Utd paid for Antony

ARSENAL have been told they'll have to shatter their club record transfer fee to sign Mykhaylo Mudryk.

The Shakhtar Donetsk ace was on Mikael Arteta's radar in the summer but the Gunners were initially put off by the Ukranian's asking price for the winger.

The north Londoners are understood to still hold an interest in signing the 21-year-old, but Shakthar won't let him go for anything less than a staggering £85million.

Sporting Director Carlo Nicolini told Calciomercato: "Is €40m enough to buy him? We do not speak to these figures.

"Not even for €50m, we don't even call the president to communicate the offer.

"We value Mudryk more than Antony of Manchester United, who cost €100m."

Mudryk has been in fine form for Shakhtar this season, scoring six goals and providing seven assists in 11 appearances in all competitions.

His displays have caught the eye of several clubs across Europe, as well as Arsenal.

But Shakhtar don't plan on cashing in on the youngster anytime soon.

Nicolini said: "We are not obliged to sell, we do not want to make phenomena. We don't want to shoot figures that aren't realistic.

"But in this team, he is the most decisive.

"If you want to take on certain players who make a difference in the top clubs, you also need the right money."

He continued: "The headlights are on him, but I say that the Italians always come later.

"Now it is easy to observe him, but it was possible to do it before. The Italians bring low proposals, we don't even sit down to negotiate.

"There are many English candidates, there is the Spanish on duty, the French on duty, but now it takes the right amount to take him away.

"Together with [Kylian] Mbappe, [Rafael] Leao and Vinicius [Jr], Mudryk is the strongest player in that position.

"Oscillating between Arsenal and Manchester City? They are two teams that have taken an interest in the player. But there are also other clubs that can spend right away."