Transfer guru Graeme Bailey of 90min has claimed that Newcastle were among three clubs watching Mykhaylo Mudryk in action for Ukraine.
As per Football Insider, the Toon will pursue a deal for the Shakhtar Donetsk winger after Eddie Howe gave a move the go-ahead.
The English coach is looking to bring in another attacker and is believed to be a ‘firm admirer’ of the 21-year-old.
Mudryk has already caught the eye this season, scoring and assisting two goals in two Champions League appearances and it appears that plenty of interested parties were in attendance as he earned his sixth international cap in a 3-0 defeat to Scotland.
Speaking on the Talking Transfers podcast Bailey said: (31:20) “From what I understand half the Premier League were represented at Hampden (Park) last night, not just looking at him.
“But Chelsea were there, Arsenal were, Newcastle, we believe Mudryk was the man who they were watching.”
Arsenal have previously been linked with a move for the starlet dubbed the ‘Ukranian Messi’, while Brentford had a £26m bid rejected in the summer.
It is interesting, however, to see that Chelsea are showing an interest and it could make Newcastle’s path to Mudryk’s signature much more difficult.
Former Premier League manager Alex McLeish called the eye-catching forward the ‘shining light’ as Shakhtar drew with Celtic in the Champions League earlier this month.
Predominantly a left-winger, the 5ft 9in sparkplug would be a useful alternative should Allan Saint-Maximin’s injury problems persist.
Given that the Magpies have also managed to score just once from open play in the three games the French star missed, PIF may be persuaded and should be encouraged to act quickly in order to ensure they win the race for this rising talent.
