£50m Arsenal target raves about 'incredible' Gunners as CEO confirms Man City interest
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Arsenal may have been the team most neutrals turned in to watch during that Champions League meeting with Shakhtar Donetsk, but name on the visitor’s team sheet certainly jumped off the page.
Those with a keen eye on transfer developments across the continent will be very familiar with his name.
Georgiy Sudakov; the Ukraine international who looks set to become the biggest sale out of his homeland since Chelsea beat Arsenal to Mykhaylo Mudryk two years ago.
While few at the Emirates will care little about that these days – Mudryk didn’t even make the squad for Chelsea’s trip to Liverpool last time out – Arsenal’s interest in Sudakov provided an intriguing subplot to Wednesday’s first-round clash in North London.
Arsenal have been linked heavily with Sudakov in recent months, with that midweek clash something of an audition.
Now, the youngster was not at his most effective on the night.
Yet, he still completed the most key passes of any player barring Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli, showcasing the defence-splitting vision which has Sudakov mentioned alongside Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and James Maddison.
The English trio are, he says in an interview with The Telegraph, an inspiration to Shakhtar’s number ten.
Shakhtar Donetsk star Georgiy Sudakov full of praise for Arsenal
TBR understands that, while Arsenal are already in the mix, both Manchester City and Liverpool sent scouts to watch Sudakov as Shakhtar lost 3-0 to Atalanta at the start of October.
HITC reports interest from Chelsea, Newcastle, West Ham United and Aston Villa too.
And while Sudakov would not address the rumours linking him to The Gunners in the aftermath of his side’s narrow 1-0 defeat – Shakhtar boss Marino Pusic was left rueing the brilliance of Arsenal’s David Raya in goal – the talented playmaker could not speak highly enough of a team who’s jersey he may soon be wearing.
“The first-half was very difficult for our team,” Sudakov tells reporters. “There was a certain atmosphere, a pressure, which helps the opponent when you play away against such an incredibly strong team.
“Arsenal is probably one of the strongest teams in Europe, even in the world.
“[Playing at the Emirates] was incredible. You want to play games like this every week. You enjoy the moment. It was incredible.
“I was very happy to take part in this game.”
Shakhtar CEO confirms Manchester City interest in Ukraine ace
Arsenal needed an own goal from goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk to secure the win. He unwittingly turned the ball home after Martinelli’s shot had rebounded back of the post.
Shakhtar CEO Sergei Palkin certainly stoked the fires surrounding Sudakov’s future in the pre-match build-up, meanwhile.
He told Goal that Arteta’s old employers Manchester City were showing an interest, having previously confirmed that the bidding will start at £50 million.
“We conceded in the first-half. They had more chances, but we also wanted to play well and we also created our chances,” Sudakov adds, proud of his side’s efforts at the home of Arsenal.
“In the second-half, I think we played [better]. Maybe not very well, but we showed a game we can be proud of. We wanted to score. We tried, we had chances. I think we deserved to score at least once.”
