Arsenal have reportedly made progress in their attempts to bring Shakhtar Donetsk attacker Mykhaylo Mudryk to the Emirates Stadium.
The 22-year-old has seemingly been earmarked as the Gunners' top January target as Mikel Arteta works around the absences of Gabriel Jesus and Reiss Nelson through injury.
Arsenal have been locked in negotiations with Shakhtar for some time now, but the Ukrainian giants are holding firm on their £88m asking price.
Mudryk himself is known to be keen on a switch to the Emirates and has supposedly already agreed to personal terms in principle with Arsenal, who could face competition from Chelsea for his signature.
However, with the Blues recently concluding a loan deal for Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix, Arsenal could have a clear run at Mudryk, whose contract with Shakhtar runs until 2026.
© Reuters
Arteta has refused to give too much away regarding talks over a deal for Mudryk, but The Mirror claims that Arsenal have now held another positive round of talks with Shakhtar.
The Gunners are already believed to have seen offers of £55m and £62m rejected, but all parties are confident that an agreement will soon be reached.
Mudryk, who is taking part in Shakhtar's winter training camp in Turkey amid the speculation surrounding his future, has recorded an eye-catching 10 goals and eight assists in 18 appearances this season.
The attacker has three goals and two assists to his name from six group-stage outings in the Champions League, taking his total for Shakhtar to 12 goals and 17 assists from 44 games in all tournaments.
Arsenal manager Arteta has been left with Eddie Nketiah as his sole option in the number nine spot following Jesus's knee injury, which is expected to render the Brazilian unavailable until March at the earliest.
© Reuters
Nketiah has contributed four goals in four games while filling in for Jesus, and Arteta has also welcomed Emile Smith Rowe back to ease the pressure on Gabriel Martinelli, who could also be deployed up front.
However, the Gunners boss still called for new signings after Nketiah's brace in Monday's 3-0 FA Cup win over Oxford United, saying: "The problem is we have only one! And to go for that many months until Jesus is back is not easy.
"But we have to get the most out of the players that we have at the moment and if we can have some reinforcements - great."
Nketiah will lead the line again when Arsenal face Tottenham Hotspur in the latest edition of the North London derby this Sunday, as the Gunners aim to maintain or increase their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Ben Knapton
