Arsenal are reportedly still firmly in the race for Shakhtar Donetsk attacker Mykhaylo Mudryk.

There remains widespread speculation surrounding the future of the 21-year-old, who has been in impressive form for his Ukrainian club during the 2022-23 campaign.

Mudryk has scored seven times and registered seven assists in 14 appearances in all competitions, including four goals and five assists in eight league appearances.

The Ukraine international also starred for Shakhtar in the group stage of the Champions League, contributing three goals and two assists in six appearances, although he was unable to help his side qualify for the knockout round of the competition.

Shakhtar instead finished third to drop into the Europa League knockout round playoffs, where they will take on Rennes for a position in the last-16 stage of the competition.

Manchester City, Newcastle United and Real Madrid are among the clubs believed to be keeping a close eye on the attacker's situation ahead of the January transfer window.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has said that Arsenal are still firmly in the hunt, but the Gunners will have to "move fast" in order to win the race for his signature.

"For sure Arsenal remain interested, they are following him for a long time but there's still nothing decided," Romano wrote in his column for CaughtOffside.

"Shakhtar Donetsk want more than €60m (£52.3m)-€65m (£56.7m) to sell him now and it's not easy. The race is open, if Arsenal really want him they have to move fast."

Mudryk has scored nine goals and registered 16 assists in 40 appearances for his current side since making his debut in 2018.

Shakhtar assistant sporting director Carlo Nicolini recently confirmed that both Arsenal and Man City were showing an interest in the in-form attacker.

"The Italians bring low proposals, we don't even sit down to negotiate. There are many English candidates, there is the Spanish on duty, the French on duty, but now it takes the right amount to take him away," he told Calciomerato.

"Together with [Kylian] Mbappe, [Rafael] Leao and Vinicius [Junior], Mudryk is the strongest player in that position.

"Oscillating between Arsenal and Manchester City? They are two teams that have taken an interest in the player. But there are also other clubs that can spend right away."

Shakhtar are in a strong position when it comes to the forward's future, as he has a contract with the Ukrainian giants until December 2026. body check tags ::