According to widespread reports, Ukrainian sensation Mykhailo Mudryk could well be Premier League bound in the January transfer window. And considering his exciting but yet frightening qualities, he’d be yet another superb and electric addition to the English top flight.
The 21-year-old could have joined Brentford last summer with a deal worth €25million said to be in place, however, the player chose to remain in his native country for the time being. A few months on, with some scintilating performances both at domestic level and in the biggest European stage, the UEFA Champions League, Mudryk’s stock has soared as a result.
According to The Athletic, the Shakhtar wizard is a priority target for Arsenal in January, and sources close to the situation believe that a deal could well materialise very soon. The Ukrainian giants have quoted a figure of around €100million (£85.9m) for Mudryk, with the club CEO stating that if Brazilian winger Antony joined Manchester United for a similar hefty sum, then their most prized asset should cost the same.
However, the Gunners are reportedly looking to drive the price down to secure his signature, but Shakhtar would be forgiven in sticking to their astronomical price tag, considering Mudryk’s stark importance and recent impact before the World Cup break.
The 21-year-old has enjoyed a scintilating campaign, registering 10 goals and eight assists from 19 games in all competitions so far, propelling him to become one of Europe’s most devastating young attackers. With Mikel Arteta’s men undergoing a stark renaissance under his stewardship so far, adding the 21-year-old to their ranks in January may just guarantee them a top four finish come May.
But, in order to come to that lofty conclusion, first we must understand who Mudryk is and more crucially what the Ukrainian superstar could bring to the Emirates and the English top flight, should he make the move, as reported.
Who is Mykhailo Mudryk?
Born in a small Ukrainian city southeast of the capital Kyiv, Mudryk took his first steps in football at local club Metalist Kharkiv in 2010. He would go on to remain at the club until 2014 before making a move to FC Dnipro in a bid to enhance his development and youthful experience.
After spending two years at Dnipro, he would then go on to join the prestigious Shakhtar Donetsk academy after they wasted no time in convincing the forward to join their youth ranks in October 2016 following a string of impressive performances at both club and international level for Ukraine’s U15/U16 sides.
Right from the off, it was fairly evident to see that Shakhtar possessed a remarkable burgeoning talent, but also a up and coming superstar. Swiftly rising through the youth system, he was quickly and deservedly promoted to the club’s senior side in 2018, making his debut off the bench on October 31st under then-manager Paulo Fonseca.
Going into 2019, as is the case with most youth players, a decision was needed to ensure that Mudryk’s development did not stall due to limited minutes in the first team; whether continuing to play at U21 level or go out on loan to receive much needed first team opportunities. A loan it would be, as he joined Arsenal Kyiv (making 10 appearances) for the duration of the season, followed by Desna Chernihiv (making 10 appearances) in 2020.
Mudryk would then return to Shakhtar in January 2021, making 3 appearances as the season came to it’s conclusion. Heading into the 2021/22 campaign, Shakhtar appointed Roberto De Zerbi as their new manager; an appointment which proved an absolute masterstroke, not only for the club as a whole but for Mudryk to become a household name in the whole of Ukraine, due to De Zerbi’s propensity to hand youth with vast first team experience.
“If I don’t bring him to a high level, I will consider it a personal defeat”, said the Italian coach with regards to the player’s potential. Over the course of the next couple of months, Mudryk was eased into the team, more often coming on as a substitute.
This was especially true of Champions League matches, playing 178 minutes over 6 games. However, it was in the league where he had more of an influence — scoring 2 goals and providing 7 assists in 11 matches in the first half of the season. (before Russia launched a full-scale invasion against Ukraine)
With the nation’s future in serious jeopardy, football had to be put on pause to ensure the safety of the people, with Mudryk bravely taking a stand for his country, devoting his time to volunteer work. However, the war took a hefty toll on Shakhtar with the club having to lose most of their foreign imports, but with those adversities came more opportunities for Mudryk to thrive upon the return of Ukrainian football.
Since then, the 21-year-old hasn’t looked back becoming the face of Shakhtar and the hope and foundation upon which Ukrainian football can build upon for the future. And since his international bow for his country in May, he’s gone on to make feature in eight games for his country.
What is Mudryk’s style of play?
First and foremost, Mykhailo Mudryk predominately lines-up on the left-flank for both Shakhtar Donetsk and Ukraine, a position he’s held throughout his development from the youth ranks right through to the Donetsk first team, which means his responsibilities at both club and international are to mostly create chances for teammates and score goals.
On the evidence of the past year or so, Mudryk has phenomenally shown that he can both score and assist at a rapid and unbridled rate. And his numbers this season simply paint the whole picture, so far registering 18 goal involvements from 19 games in all competitions for the Ukrainian giants.
Mudryk is a frightening young player, and his goal involvements only tell half the story. Possessing electric, pace and acceleration, dynamic and fearless on the ball and in his 1v1 battles with opposing defenders, the Ukrainian perfectly fits the description of a ‘wing wizard’. A player who can create moments and opportunities for his team in the blink of an eye. A speed and dribbling merchant.
The most impressive thing about Mudryk is how he controls his speed as seen in numerous instances in his highlights below:
Because of his exceptional balance, close control and low sense of gravity, he’s capable of shifting his speed in various instances to fool his marker and leave them in his wake. From fast to slow, back to lightning speed once again.
However, it isn’t just the pace that’s the most telling element, but his movement and the expertness at which he shifts his body positioning in order to evade a number of markers at a time, or to evade tight spaces in order to progress his team up the pitch. Mudryk’s movement is unbelievably deceptive, but incredibly graceful. He’s player you simply cannot take your eyes off. Blink for even a milli-second and you’ll miss a trick or two.
His feet move remarkably quickly — they’re a blur, like something out of DC comic superhero The Flash. The 21-year-old needs very little time to accelerate or change direction with his great balance and intensity. This often leaves defenders either leaving him with too much space to receive the ball and take them on or overcommitting whilst trying to pressure him.
And the numbers back up just how devastating he is in the dribble. Last season, he averaged 3.7 progressive carries per 90 — one of the highest in the Shakhtar side and in the entire Ukrainian First division. He also attempted an average of 10 dribbles per game with a success rate just below 50%; very impressive numbers for any winger. In fact, hi underlying numbers amongst midfielders over the past year make for phenomenal reading. Mudryk ranks in the 95th percentile of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for dribbles completed per 90, and in 98th percentile for goal-creating actions per 90.
Mudryk is far from your traditional winger, only capable of getting to the byline and crossing. The former Dnipro loanee is tactically flexible and positionally excellent too. Knowing when to sit high and wide or dropping into the half spaces in various attacking scenarios.
But one of his calling cards is the timing of his runs into half-spaces when one of his progressive teammates have possession. He is disciplined enough to maintain the true width of the pitch before bursting into open space and latching on to through balls with terrific movement. His exploits off the ball are superb and timely, especially for a player of his young age. Movements are instinctive and second nature, once he sees space to burst into he’ll use to devastating effect, whether his team are in possession or when in transition.
His impressive pace is also a huge asset on the counter, especially as he provides the perfect profile to successfully turn defense into attack at such a frightening speed. When passing angles are blocked, he holds tremendous knowledge on other avenues to exploit such as attacking central spaces.
The £35m-rated wonderkid ranks in the 92nd percentile of midfielders for progressive passes received and in the 93rd percentile for touches in the attacking third per 90 meaning he is amongst the best midfielders on the continent for his threat and ability in attacking areas with which his team regularly looks for him to create opportunities.
In fact, he’s arguably Shakhtar’s most telling threat when it comes to creating chances. Along with his eight assists so far this season, he ranks in the 93rd percentile for expected assists (xA) per90, 98th percentile for assists per 90, and in the 99th percentile for through balls per 90.
Mudryk isn’t a one trick pony, only capable of getting past defenders, but he’s also an influential component when the game slows down, finding the right moments in the half space or out wide to penetrate the opposition defence. But more crucially, when running at full speed, you’d expect most young wingers to hesitate in crucial moments in which an attack breaks down, that isn’t the case for the eight-time Ukrainian international. He’s perfectly capable at picking the right passes even when approaching the attacking areas at full speed.
Not only is there a willingness to ghost past a defender, but to get his head up and look for a teammate too. Indeed, Mudryk is making a modest 0.8 key pass per 90 in the Champions League this season and while it’s a small sample size, it’s a respectable return, especially for a player playing just his second season in Europe’s biggest club competition.
Opponents ae certainly aware he is one of Shakhtar’s primary attacking threats, noted in that he is fouled an average of 1.5 times per 90 in the Champions League this season. Again, it’s a small sample size, but Mudryk is shining in Europe’s elite club competition for a third seed side.
What’s also notable and admirable, considering his huge exploits in attack is that the winger is willing to get stuck in and isn’t just the flashy star of this Shakhtar side. A return of 1.2 tackles per 90 is a notable return for a player in his position, particularly when you consider that Shakhtar rank fifth for tackles per 90 (19.4) in the group stages of the Champions League, with Mudryk working hard for his team.
But, it’d be criminal not to mention his superb exploits at the highest level. Three goals and two assists from six Champions League games is a tremendous return. He is taking the chance when it comes to him. Of the 83 players to have had more than five shots, Mudryk’s conversion rate of 37.5% is the fifth best in the Champions League this season, as per WhoScored.
His goal away to Celtic back in October was simply out of the top draw. Cutting in after a swift break through the Celtic midfield, before unleashing an unstoppable 25-yard drive which ballooned over the despairing Joe Hart and into the top corner. Absolutely ruthless and lethal strike.
A goal which truly showcases why Mudryk is one of the continent’s most frightening and devastating wingers. He’s a consistent influence in the final third, scoring and an assist at an impressive rate both on the domestic front and at the highest level in Europe. To think, Mudryk was criticised for not scoring enough a few months ago. In October & November alone, the 21-year-old hit eight goals in 12 games, putting all those doubts about his goalscoring to bed.
Mudryk is even drawing several comparisons to many of Europe’s best, in Brazilian forwards Neymar and Vinicius Jr. Darijo Srna, Shakhtar’s sporting director, was recently quoted in saying, “In this position (on the left), he is the third best youngster in the world behind Vinicius and Mbappé. That was my opinion a year ago. I haven’t changed my opinion.”
It is lofty comparison, and praise indeed. However, the hype around the Ukrainian is justified due to his stark progress and development over the past few months.
Forecast for the Future
It’s easy to see why Arsenal are willing to break the bank for Mykhailo Mudryk’s services. His attacking threat would provide Mikel Arteta’s exciting crop with a whole new dimension going forward, especially with star man up front Gabriel Jesus out for the foreseeable future.
How Arteta plans to shape his attack in the Brazilian’s absence will be intriguing to see. Also, can they maintain their tactical dominance over their opponents without their star man up front?
Nonetheless, it leaves the Gunners short in attack, and if they are to maintain their healthy lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League table right beyond January, then they’ll need reinforcements and Mudryk fits the bill. He’d fit right in at the Emirates.
A player willing to learn and improve every day can only further enhance the hunger and drive in Arteta’s young squad, and Mudryk indeed fits that profile. The coaches and teammates who work with him unanimously say that he is fully focused on football; coming to training first and staying to do additional practice after. “I have only one dream that surpasses all others, to become a great football player. I want to win the Ballon d’Or and enjoy football”, said Mudryk. “I must improve a lot of moments because I think I can play better… I’m only at maximum 20 percent of my potential.”
With this mentality and dedication he has displayed in his young career, it’s hard to see why he can’t thrive in England immediately. But more significantly, the atmosphere, vibrancy and mentality currently overwhelming the Arsenal camp right now will be incredibly beneficial for Mudryk to come in and make an immediate impact like summer signings Jesus, fellow countryman Oleksandr Zinchenko and Fabio Vieira have achieved.
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