The fact that other clubs know how much Arsenal were willing to pay for Mykhaylo Mudryk could have implications for the remainder of their transfer window, according to one journalist.
The Gunners missed out on the signing of the Ukraine international to Premier League rivals despite making as much effort as possible to sign the winger.
Arsenal met Shakhtar Donetsk’s €100m asking price for Mudryk but the chief executive of the Ukrainian side insisted that the “schedule of payments and bonuses were better” in the Chelsea offer and the Blues were willing to pay more in wages to the player.
And now Mikel Arteta and Arsenal technical director Edu are looking at other targets with Barcelona duo Raphinha and Ferran Torres mooted, while Brighton pair Leandro Trossard and Kaoru Mitoma are also thought to be under consideration.
Despite other reports from Spain claiming that Raphinha is looking to leave Barcelona in the January transfer window, reliable CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs insists that the Brazilian ‘doesn’t want to leave’ Barcelona.
He adds that Barcelona ‘would also expect a fee surpassing’ the deal that Chelsea agreed for Mudryk last week and he warned Arsenal that ‘lots of clubs will use this as a valuation yardstick in deals’ until the transfer window closes.
Jacobs continued: “Arsenal have always liked Raphinha, but last summer they didn’t want to go too far above €50m.
“Arsenal are exploring multiple options, and their admiration of Raphinha is no secret, but the Brazilian is intent on staying at the Camp Nou.”
Paul Merson reckons Arsenal “might go for Raphinha” before the end of the transfer window as he hopes his former club “haven’t put all their eggs into one basket”.
“They will be very disappointed, of course they will,” Merson told Sky Sports.
“They have been chasing him for a couple of weeks, it’s all been Arsenal talk, will they pay enough, will they go a little bit more. Then Chelsea have come from absolutely nowhere and blown Arsenal out of the water and that is what it is like.
“Now they have got to regroup again. Surely they will have had a couple of other players in the pipeline, surely they haven’t put all their eggs into one basket. I think they might go for Raphinha at Barcelona. Barcelona have still got to settle their books.”
On Arsenal missing out on Mudryk, Merson added: “He is probably getting more money at Chelsea. He is probably getting bigger wages.
“If Arsenal then go, ‘right we will give you those wages’, how do you think those players are going to react? It is a happy dressing room at the moment, if you start bringing in players and giving them, 200, 300 grand, players start getting unsettled.
“You are better off not rocking the boat. These chances do not come along too often. They are top of the league, you have got to seize the moment and you don’t want to ruin that.”
READ MORE: Mediawatch: Now ‘hijacked’ Mykhaylo Mudryk cost £97m and is almost as fast as Usain Bolt!