Arsenal have £57m bid for winger Mykhaylo Mudryk rejected by Shakhtar Donetsk

Arsenal opening bid for Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, believed to be worth £57million, has been rejected by the Ukrainian club.

Mikel Arteta is keen to add attacking reinforcements during the January transfer window as Arsenal look to cement their place at the top of the Premier League.

They are one of several clubs to have begun talks with Shakhtar over a move for the 21-year-old, who has made clear his interest in joining the north London side.

Arsenal made their first move for the Ukraine international this week but Shakhtar, who are keen to receive as much as £85m, have turned the bid down.

As reported by Sportsmail, Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov will have the final say on any deal.

There is, however, an expectation that an agreement could be reached next month.

Mudryk posted a picture on social media on Boxing Day, showing he was watching Arsenal’s victory over West Ham.

Arteta, who faces around three months without Gabriel Jesus, was coy on a possible deal after that win, saying: ‘We said that we will try to find ways to strengthen the team… we will find the right players and that is all I can say.’ Ends