Mykhaylo Mudryk is closing in on a move to Arsenal after a fresh transfer bid but Mikel Arteta is set to see long-term target Danilo instead join Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest

Mykhaylo Mudryk is edging closer to a move to Arsenal (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Arsenal are five points ahead of Manchester City at the summit of the Premier League but are still scouring the markets for recruits this month.

Mikel Arteta’s side, who lock horns with Tottenham in the north London derby on Sunday, are light on attacking options. Summer acquisition Gabriel Jesus is expected to be sidelined for up to three months after undergoing knee surgery last month and a host of different names have been linked with the Gunners in recent weeks.

As we approach the halfway point of the winter transfer window, Mirror Football rounds up all the latest transfer news and gossip from in and around the Emirates Stadium…

Mudryk deal edging closer

Arsenal are finally closing in on a deal for top target Mykhaylo Mudryk after weeks of negotiations with Shakhtar Donetsk.

Mudryk, 22, has been heavily linked with a mega-money switch to the Gunners for months. However, fears had grown over a move after the Ukrainian giants rebuffed two separate bids for the winger, who they value at around £90million.

The Telegraph now claim that Arsenal and Shakhtar are edging closer to an agreement after the Londoners submitted a third bid for Mudryk.

It is believed that Arsenal’s latest offer, including add-ons and bonuses, could eclipse £80m, but crucially the Gunners are willing to pay a big chunk of that up front. There is now ‘confidence’ that a deal will happen, with both sides now only discussing the structure of the deal.

Arteta set to miss out on Danilo

Former Arsenal target Danilo is set to join Nottingham Forest ( Image: Getty Images)

Long-term Arsenal target Danilo appears to be edging closer to a switch to Nottingham Forest.

The Gunners were heavily linked with the Palmeiras midfielder back in the summer, but their Premier League rivals have now leapfrogged them in the race for the 21-year-old, who is expected to undergo a medical in Nottingham over the weekend.

The Athletic revealed that Forest have struck a deal worth €20million (£17.8million) for Danilo’s services. The youngster also had admirers at Chelsea and Monaco after catching the eye in Brazil.

Cedric switch in the balance

Cedric Soares could still leave Arsenal this month ( Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Fulham boss Marco Silva has confirmed that the Whites are interested in Cedric Soares – but refused to be drawn on their chances of landing the Gunners right-back.

Cedric has been linked with a move to Craven Cottage and has fallen behind Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White in the Arsenal pecking order.

Silva admitted that he is a player of interest after Fulham’s win over Chelsea on Thursday night. He said: “We are trying to sign a right back. Those players [other rumoured targets] are not true.

“I’m not saying if Cedric is true or not, but the other two are not true. I will not hide that from you. Cedric is a national team player and is fully involved in Arsenal’s squad, they are fighting for something really important.”

source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/