Arsenal target Georgiy Sudakov will 'definitely' be sold as £60m talks begin, Shakhtar confirm

Shakhtar Donetsk believe £60million-rated midfielder Georgiy Sudakov will “definitely” follow Mykhailo Mudryk in leaving Ukraine for a top Premier League club this summer.

Arsenal are tipped to make a move for the 21-year-old, who is widely considered the next top talent to emerge from Ukrainian football and has also been linked with Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Liverpool.

Shakhtar officials have been in London this week as they plan for the summer transfer window, when they expect to lose their star man Sudakov.

Shakhtar CEO Sergei Palkin, who was involved in Mudryk's move to Chelsea amid competition from Arsenal, said: "This summer window, he has a big chance to move to some big clubs.

“We have had some contacts with big clubs and some are not negotiating with us directly but are getting a feel for the summer environment.

“He will definitely move to a top European club this summer. When I was at Chelsea versus Everton on Monday, many people asked me about Sudakov."

Napoli had a £34m bid for Sudakov, who has 14 Ukraine caps, rejected in January and did not match the £43m counter offer from Shakhtar, which did not include potential add-ons.

Shakhtar are now believed to be asking for £60m, which is just shy of the initial £62.5m Chelsea paid for Mudryk in January 2023 in a deal that could rise to £88.5m with add-ons.

Palkin believes Napoli wasted a chance to pip English clubs to his signature, saying: “I told Napoli in January they could have him for €50m plus bonuses, and they offered €40m, but I said to them to close the deal now or lose this unique chance.

Shakhtar CEO Sergei Palkin

“Now, it will not be €50m. They would have no chance to do that now because we have many more clubs looking. The most interest will come from English clubs. For me, he will become one of the best midfielders in Europe and the world.

"We don’t want clubs to seek discounts because we are at war. An example was for Mudryk. We are quite strong.”

Chelsea won a bidding war against Arsenal for Mudryk, who has scored just six goals in 51 games in England to prompt criticism over his performances at Stamford Bridge.

Palkin believes Mudryk will show his worth but needs support to reach the next level.

"Misha is a top European player - a unique player,” he said. "I believe coaches need to learn how to use him and how his teammates need to play with him. When I watch Chelsea, nearly all the attacks go down the right side, not the left.

"In our club, we realised his strengths and urged our players to use him to the maximum. A lot depends on the coaches and how they treat and teach him. He is still young.

"They need to have personal contact with him to show him his weaknesses and promote his strengths. He will deliver at the top level of European football."

Palkin complained last month of Tottenham's conduct in trying to make forward Manor Solomon's loan move permanent without a transfer fee.

Shakhtar, which continues to operate in war-torn Ukraine, are looking for a bigger sell-on clause than has been offered.

Palkin said: “We are not asking for money from Tottenham. We are asking for a good sell-on fee for the future. If you sell him for good money we both receive something. It’s not respectful that they only offer us 10 percent sell-on fee. It’s as if they don’t respect football values or what happens in Ukraine.

“I am appealing to the moral side as if we don’t find a solution, we will have to go to court to the legal side. I want to appeal to Daniel Levy to urge him to uphold the values of the football family."

A Tottenham spokesman previously told ESPN about the negotiations: “We made a donation to Shakhtar's foundation following the friendly last summer and we continue to discuss this situation with them but not via the press.”