Arsenal launch move for £55m ex-Leeds star after Chelsea hijack Mudryk transfer; Neves to Liverpool?

Arsenal are set to open talks with Barcelona for a former Premier League star after missing out on Mykhaylo Mudryk to Chelsea…

MOVING ON
Arsenal are ready to renew their interest in Barcelona winger Raphinha after Chelsea hijacked their pursuit of Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, according to reports.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claimed yesterday that a phone call to Chelsea boss Graham Potter sold the Blues project to Mudryk earlier this week despite the Ukraine international originally having his heart set on a move to Arsenal.

Chelsea have agreed a deal ‘close to €100m’ with Romano bringing news this morning that Mudryk is ‘now completing his medical tests as Chelsea plan to have all official contracts signed in the next few hours’.

And now Arsenal are looking at other possibilities with Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu still keen to bring in a winger before the transfer window shuts. The Evening Standard claims that Edu ‘has made contact with Raphinha’s agent Deco over a possible January move’.

The former Leeds United winger has struggled to nail down a regular starting place in Xavi’s side since moving there from Yorkshire in the summer transfer window for £55m.

Raphinha has made 21 appearances for Barcelona but nine of those have come from the bench with the Brazilian providing two goals and four assists in that time.

The Evening Standard adds that Raphinha ‘could be made available by Barcelona after an indifferent spell’ with Arsenal and Chelsea both keen to sign him in the summer before he chose the Catalan giants.

Arsenal – who are currently top of the Premier League table – ‘have continued to monitor his situation through Edu’s excellent relationship with Deco’ and Arteta is still ‘keen to add a forward’ before the end of the month.

NEVES TO THE RESCUE?
Liverpool are considering a move for Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves with Jurgen Klopp keen to strengthen his midfield before the end of January, according to reports.

The Portugal international has been linked with a move away from Molineux for years now but, with 18 months left on his contract, that is becoming more of a possibility in the next couple of transfer windows.

And the Daily Mirror claims that Liverpool are ‘weighing up a move’ for Neves with Reds boss Klopp understood to be a ‘big admirer’ of the 25-year-old midfielder.

Despite claims Liverpool have ‘spent their entire transfer budget’ on Cody Gakpo this month, the newspaper adds that ‘it may suit Wolves and Liverpool to strike an agreement now’ because of Neves’ contract situation.

Wolves have previously put a lofty price tag on his head but they ‘know his price is falling with every week he fails to sign fresh terms’. Newcastle are ‘unlikely to make a move until the summer’ and that gives Liverpool ‘a window of opportunity to move this month or risk getting into a bidding war with cash-rich Toon’.

Liverpool’s midfield has been blamed for many of their problems this season with their 3-0 loss to Brighton on Saturday their sixth defeat in 18 Premier League matches.

AND THE REST…
Chelsea have made a 30m euro (£26.5m) bid for PSV Eindhoven winger Noni Madueke…Liverpool have ended contract talks with midfielder Naby Keita and will let the Guinea international leave on a free transfer in the summer…Chelsea had a loan bid for Michail Antonio turned down by West Ham…Crystal Palace will launch a new bid for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher in the January window…Barcelona are in no rush to sell Memphis Depay and are happy to keep him until his contract expires in the summer.