Arsenal are in talks to sign Shakhtar Donetsk defender Mykola Matviyenko, according to the player’s agent Yuriy Danchenko.

The 23-year-old has also been linked with Manchester City but speaking out about the Gunners’ interest, Danchenko revealed that the London club had been in regular contact with him regarding a move to England:

“Recently, my colleagues and I have been constantly in contact with representatives of the Arsenal, and have had meetings. The Gunners’ hierarchy have already contacted [Shakhtar], and we hope that these negotiations will succeed.”

Matviyenko played twice against City for Shakhtar earlier this season, and his performances may well have come to the attention of Mikel Arteta, who would have seen the player up close.

The Ukrainian international isn’t the most experienced of defenders having made just 61 appearances for Shakhtar, with the centre-back only having established himself as a first-team regular at the end of last season.

Arsenal have been seeking to strengthen the centre of defence but they were reportedly priced out of a move for RB Leipzig’s Dayot Upamecano and were unwilling to take the risk on Bayern Munich’s Jerome Boateng due to his age and fitness issues. Matviyenko appears to have emerged as a viable alternative who could be signed this month.