Arsenal appear to be eyeing a deal to land both Mykhaylo Mudryk and Joao Felix in the January transfer window, but so far face one key obstacle blocking both joining the club. It comes ahead of a potentially huge market coming up for the Gunners to try and reinforce the squad.
Mikel Arteta has currently guided his side to the top of the Premier League and several points clear of his nearest competitors Manchester City and Newcastle United. However, there are still plenty of questions over the depth and quality at his disposal across the whole squad.
The Spaniard has reiterated his desire to dip into the budget at the Emirates Stadium to try and land some players in January, telling reporters: "We knew the importance of getting players early in the summer and that is the same we want to do in January. This is idealistic. Sometimes it is not realistic. But obviously, if you ask my opinion, as quick as possible we want the players in to get settled."
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In an attempt to do that, football.london understands that Arsenal tabled a first formal offer to Shakhtar Donetsk for winger Mudryk amounting to £55million in total. That was turned down by the Ukrainian club, who are said to be holding out for slightly more money for the 19-year-old.
The finances are an issue also facing any deal for Felix in January too, with the Portugal international on the radar of the Gunners in January. Athletic reporter David Ornstein explained the current hold up over the deal: "They [Arsenal] are keen to sign João Félix from Atletico Madrid. He's been offered to a number of clubs and at the moment the numbers are too high. Arsenal are keen to do it but the numbers would need to come down."
It shows that there is still a key block to both deals going through when it comes to the finances, however it has to work for the club in the long-term sustainability as well as the short-term influx of new players. It means that, as is often the case with transfer windows, it may be closer to the end of the window that some of these deals can go through.
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