Mykhaylo Mudryk is the name currently on Arsenal supporters’ lips as the Gunners have recently made their first bid for the Shakhtar Donetsk superstar.
According to the Daily Mail, the north London side are already preparing a second offer for the £80m-rated attacker as Arsenal’s first attempt to sign Mudryk was unsuccessful, though there appears to be confidence in the air that a deal can be wrapped up in the coming weeks.
That being said, this is still Arsenal Football Club we’re talking about, and there’s every chance their pursuit of Mudryk could end in flames, with the north London side not the only team interested in signing the 21-year-old superstar.
Should the worse-case scenario happen, here are three alternatives Arsenal could target in January as Mikel Arteta looks to add to his attacking ranks in the winter transfer window.
Three alternatives as Arsenal prepare second bid for Mykhaylo Mudryk
Omar Marmoush
Omar Marmoush is a player we have already discussed at length here on Arsenal Insider, and for very good reason. The VfL Wolfsburg attacker looks set to leave Germany next month, and north London could be an ideal destination for the Egyptian international.
Statistically a very similar forward to Gabriel Jesus yet an attacker who is missing that final product, Marmoush could be the cheapest and most left-field Mudryk alternative for Edu Gaspar to target in January, though that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Blessed with pace and capable of moments of magic, Marmoush has the potential to be Arsenal’s under-the-radar saviour if the Wolfsburg star was to join the north London side. And a potential signing could allow more funds to be spent on a central midfielder.
Randal Kolo Muani
Very few in England were aware of Randal Kolo Muani, yet after the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the France international is now one of the most talked-about names in Europe, with the attacker arguably the catalyst behind Les Bleus’ incredible comeback against Argentina in the final.
Whilst France ultimately lost with Kolo Muani missing an extra-time chance to win the match, the Eintracht Frankfurt attacker’s stock has risen considerably since the Qatar World Cup, and Arsenal could be an ideal next step for the versatile attacker.
Already one of the best players in the Bundesliga this season with eight goals and 11 assists in all competitions, Kolo Muani has the potential to become a superstar in football. And for what Arsenal could need in a Mudryk alternative, the 24-year-old could be perfect for the job.
Ousmane Dembele
Ousmane Dembele might be the biggest name on this list, yet with the FC Barcelona superstar enjoying a fully fit season, there’s a reason to believe that the France international is finally back to his best, with the winger enjoying an impressive year in Catalonia under Xavi Hernandez.
With five goals and seven assists in all competitions, Dembele has finally found his feet in Barcelona after nearly five years of inconsistent form and time spent out on the treatment table. And for Arsenal, the attacker could be the best alternative for Mudryk in terms of pricing.
Indeed, Arsenal have already had an almost £60m bid rejected for Mudryk by Shakhtar, and if the Gunners are desperate to spend on a top winger, Dembele could be the player for Arteta and Edu, with the Frenchman seemingly an ideal fit for the north London side.
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