Newcastle one of few who can sign Mudryk

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed that Newcastle United are one of the few clubs who ‘could afford’ to sign Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk.

The Lowdown: Scouts sent

It was reported in October that the St James’ Park outfit had sent scouts to watch the Ukrainian in action in Shakhtar’s 1-1 draw at Celtic in the Champions League group stage, where he scored a screamer to ensure that his team qualified for the play-off round of the Europa League.

The 21-year-old is believed to be ‘open’ to a move to Tyneside and is ‘keen’ on moving to the Premier League in the January transfer window.

The Latest: Newcastle ‘could afford’ Mudryk

Speaking to The Transfer Tavern, O’Rourke has claimed that Newcastle are one of a select few clubs who ‘could afford’ Mudryk, as Shakhtar’s deputy sporting director Carlo Nicolini has claimed that it would take at least €100m (£87.4m) to sign the youngster.

The journalist said: “The one good thing on Newcastle’s side is that they’re probably going to be one of the few clubs that could afford Mudryk, considering the price tag that Shakhtar have put on his head.

“Newcastle are competing for a top four spot right now in the Premier League, so if they continue that, maybe that can persuade someone like a Mudryk to join this Newcastle project.”

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The Verdict: Another club-record fee?

Judging by the stance of Shakhtar’s deputy sporting director, it would likely take another club-record fee for the Magpies to sign Mudryk, having already broken it with the £63m signing of Alexander Isak in the summer.

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Football presenter and pundit Jack Collins has lauded the Ukrainian as ‘absolutely unreal’ and ‘undefendable’ in explosive bursts, and that was shown in his solo effort against Celtic, while he has managed six other goals and seven assists across all competitions so far this season (Transfermarkt).

Newcastle will likely have to negotiate his price tag down significantly, but Mudryk has such a high ceiling at just 21 years of age, so this would be an investment which would likely pay itself off in the future.