Arsenal close in on Mudryk as Edu agrees contract with forward

Arsenal are inching closer to a deal for Shakhtar Donetsk's prized asset Mykhaylo Mudryk, after several sources revealed that the Gunners' director of football Edu has agreed a contract with the Ukrainian starlet. Arsenal are to bolster their squad ahead of the second half of the Premier League campaign, which has so far seen Arsenal break various league records.

An injury to talismanic striker Gabriel Jesus has provided Eddie Nketiah with an opportunity leading the Arsenal front line, but director of football Edu has been busying negotiating a deal for Mudryk in recent months. The left-footed forward has caught the eye with a number of impressive displays in recent months, and Arsenal want to snap up the player already labelled by some pundits as "a future Ballon D'Or winner". 

Arsenal and Shakhtar continue to discuss a transfer fee, and the Gunners are understood to have last bid £50 million in a total package for the forward.

It is now understood that the player and his agent have verbally agreed a deal, and now it is up to the clubs to decide on a fee.

Mudryk is most comfortable playing as a left-sided winger, so will offer cover for Gabriel Martinelli, but is also able to play in the middle or on the right hand side of attack, which could offer welcome rest time for star players Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.