Arsenal’s season long search for attacking players is taking them further and further afield, now to the Ukrainian league and the Andriy Yarmolenko, reports The Mirror.
Yarmolenko is a 22 year old who has come through the ranks at giants Dynamo Kiev, where he predominantly plays as an left-sided attacking winger, in a similar role to Walcott/Gervinho/Arshavin at Arsenal, any of whom he could replace.
He has already played 130 games for his club, and 18 times for his country, amassing over 40 goals, so despite his young age he is a pretty experienced player.
Yarmolenko has been compared to Kiev’s other great product, no not Rebrov, Andriy Shevchenko. Sheva himself has not played down this link,
“Yarmolenko is the future of Ukrainian football,” says Shevchenko. “He is one of the best of the new generation. He has a rare combination of physical strength and football intelligence.
“He has already proved the top player both for the club and the national side.”
He may not be a household name yet, but Arsenal have certainly not picked him form obscurity either. Rubin Kazan bid £8 million for the player last summer, and Napoli are preparing to up this bid to £10 million, but thus far Kiev are not keen to sell and have turned down several offers. Arsenal may have to up Napoli’s £10 to nearer the £15 million mark to win the player.
Many fans have derided Arsene for refusing to loosen the purse springs, but if the Gunners are going to splash out £15 million for a player fans may be surprised to see it being spent on a 22 year who has only played in the oh so glamorous UPL league. But he is the kind of player Arsene loves, a chance to mould a young talent to the Arsene way.
Arsenal may have appeased fans with the big name Podolski signing, but now it seems Arsene is reverting to type. Can Yarmolenko become what Arsenal hoped Walcott would, or is this set to be a more of the same?
