Youri Tielemans and Mykhaylo Mudryk have their hearts set on moves to Arsenal, according to a report.

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 15: Youri Tielemans of Leicester City during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Crystal Palace at The King Power Stadium on October 15, 2022 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND: Youri Tielemans of Leicester City during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Crystal Palace at The King Power Stadium on October 15, 2022. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

CBS Sports’ Ben Jacobs reports that both Youri Tielemans and Mykhaylo Mudryk have their hearts set on Arsenal, despite plenty of interested parties. Though the Gunners are yet to make a move for either of them.

“Newcastle are very much not the frontrunners for Mudryk, who has got his heart set on Arsenal, a bit like Tielemans has got his heart set on Arsenal,” Jacobs said (via GiveMeSport).

“But, with both Tielemans and Mudryk, Arsenal simply haven’t bid at this point.”

It remains to be seen whether Arsenal will make a move for either player. Mudryk’s price seems particularly prohibitive at the moment, perhaps forcing the Gunners out of the race.

The Athletic recently reported that Shakhtar Donetsk are warning potential suitors for Mudryk that they value him at €100m, adding that Arsenal are one of the clubs monitoring the 21-year-old.

But Mudryk is clearly unhappy with the reports, telling the Ukrainian media it was more than an unwelcome surprise to him to see that kind of fee touted.

“When I found out about my price, I wasn’t just surprised – I was shocked,” Mudryk said. “I have a long-term contract with Shakhtar, I give all my strength and energy so that Shakhtar Donetsk achieves maximum results.

“I treat the UPL (Ukrainian Premier League) with all respect, but every football player has a dream to play in a top club and in a top league – I’m no exception. But I am 100% sure that they are unlikely to buy a player from the UPL for €100M.

“[Shakhtar’s CEO] says that the time will come (for a €100M sale). Maybe so. But I have my opinion that for such an amount, this time will not come soon, and maybe never.

“I can’t say that my dream was killed, but wounded – that’s for sure. But I’m a professional, I’m a Shakhtar Donetsk player, we have tough games left in the league that we have to win, and I’ll do my best to do that.”

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - OCTOBER 25: Mykhaylo Mudryk of Shakhtar Donetsk celebrates scoring their side's first goal during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Celtic FC and Shakhtar Donetsk at Celtic Park on October 25, 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND: Mykhaylo Mudryk of Shakhtar Donetsk celebrates scoring their side’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Celtic FC and Shakhtar Donetsk at Celtic Park on October 25, 2022. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Mudryk’s agent Oleksiy Alyokhin suggested that the January window could be the right time for the winger to leave Shakhtar.

“It can be seen with the naked eye that he outgrew the championship of Ukraine a long time ago and is ready to perform at a more serious level,” Alyokhin said. “He needs to progress.

“And in my opinion, now is the best time for it. I think everyone will benefit from this. Shakhtar, the national team of Ukraine, and the player himself.”

Fabrizio Romano recently claimed that Arsenal remain interested in Mudryk, having followed the winger for a long time. The Gunners reportedly haven’t made any decision yet, but Romano reports that they’ll need to move fast if they want to do a deal.

David Ornstein confirmed for The Athletic in August that Mudryk was among Arsenal’s candidates for a wide-forward signing before they ultimately shifted to the pursuit of a midfielder.