Newcastle United are now said to be “tracking” the progress of Shakhtar Donetsk forward Mykhaylo Mudryk, ahead of a potential January transfer swoop for the 21-year-old.

What’s the word?

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Newcastle are tracking Mudryk ahead of a potential January swoop for his services.

It is said that other clubs have been put off making a move for the Ukraine international due to Shakhtar’s asking price.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jacobs said: “Newcastle are tracking the player as well, Brentford and Everton haven’t come back in, not for January anyway, because they feel like they’ve been priced out of the market.”

A transfer boost?

Believe it or not, in his first three campaigns in the Ukrainian Premier League, Mudryk had registered a tally of zero returns.

To add some perspective to that revelation, that is a total of zero goals and zero assists from 26 games in Ukraine’s top-flight. Not the kind of returns you’d expect from a now £87million player.

But, in fairness, that valuation has risen as quickly as his returns have.

Eight contributions in the form of two goals and six assists came in the form of 11 appearances for Shakhtar in the 21/22 season, with the number-10-wearing star translating that momentum into this season.

Mudryk currently sits on a total of 14 attacking returns in the league in the form of seven goals and seven assists from 12 Ukrainian Premier League games.

To top off his sensational transcendence, the starlet boasts three goals and two assists in the Champions League, after failing to register a single return in the competition last season.

The signing of Mudryk in January could represent a smart move from the Tyneside outfit.

The 21-year-old would serve as a statement signing, without yet possessing the profile of a world-beating talent.

With his haul of returns in both domestic and European competition, Mudryk has found his touch in the attacking third and may fancy a move to an exciting project in the Premier League.

From a Newcastle perspective, this is a signing that could carry them through to Champions League qualification, in what will be a tough second-half of the season.