Arsenal have apparently identified Shakhtar Donetsk’s 21-year-old winger, Mykhaylo Mudryk, as a possible replacement for Nicolas Pepe.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JUNE 01: Mykhaylo Mudryk of Ukraine warms up prior to the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Scotland and Ukraine at Hampden Park on June 01, 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – JUNE 01: Mykhaylo Mudryk
of Ukraine warms up prior to the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Scotland and Ukraine at Hampden Park on June 01, 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Nicolas Pepe was left out of Arsenal’s Premier League squad for their game against Bournemouth on Saturday with the Ivorian being linked with a return to France on loan to Aaron Ramsey’s Nice.

The latest name to be linked is a new one – Mykhaylo Mudryk – and, if you’re like me, you’ll know next to nothing about him.

Given how good this current crop at Arsenal have been at recruiting lately, that’s not something that concerns me as much as it would have previously.

Under contract until 2026 after just signing a new deal in February, Mudryk is currently valued at around £8.10m (a 10x increase over the last year), so just a little over what Arsenal paid for Gabriel Martinelli.

He has two goals and seven assists in 26 Premier Liga matches, although he has averaged under 50 minutes in league matches.

Currently wearing the Shakhtar number 10 shirt, Mudryk really broke on to the scene last season and The Mirror (getting their info from here) report that Arsenal are considering ‘swooping’ for the player dubbed the ‘Ukrainian Neymar’ (that’s what their headline says) or, alternatively, the ‘Ukrainian Messi’ (which is what the article says, suggesting a sub-editor got confused).

Either way, he is apparently comfortable on either flank and can also play through the middle as an attacking midfielder.

No offer has been made yet, but it is believed that a bid of around €20m could be required.