Arsenal are unlikely to go above €75m (£66.4m) in their negotiations to sign Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, according to CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs.

Despite interest from Chelsea, the Gunners won’t be forced into a bidding war and Jacobs claims they have cited Everton’s failed offer for the Ukrainian international last summer as a benchmark:

But #AFC have never ideally wanted to go above €70-75m. They point to Everton’s failed €30m bid over the summer and argue their offer is already more than double. Shakhtar would have sold Mudryk for €45m five months ago.

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) January 5, 2023

This could well turn out similar to how things went with Raphinha last summer if Arsenal are not careful. The Gunners made all the early running before Chelsea and Barcelona swooped in with their own offers.

There is one key difference this time, though. Mudryk is very keen on a switch to the Emirates and that gives the London club a lot of leverage at the negotiating table.

With Shakhtar still holding out for their €100m (£88m) asking price, it will be tough to find a compromise but, at this stage, Arsenal are still favourites for the player’s signature.