Chelsea are interested in signing Mykhailo Mudryk, but the Blues will not make a formal offer for the Arsenal target until they know for sure that he is willing to move to Stamford Bridge.

Having failed to sign Raphinha from Leeds United in a similar situation in the summer of 2022, The Telegraph, reports that Chelsea have put on hold a decision pending the payers decision. As it stands, Mudryk is ushing to move to Arsenal and is not entertaining hopes of big money transfer to Stamford Bridge.

The newspaper has claimed that Arsenal are determined to sign the Shakhtar Donetsk winger in the January transfer window, and that the Gunners believe that the 22-year-old wants to join Mikel Arteta’s side. He has dropped several hints on social media that he wants to join Arsenal, who have had two bids for the youngster already turned down.

Chelsea are also reportedly interested in Mudryk, but co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali are delaying a formal bid because they want to know for sure that the winger will be willing to move to Stamford Bridge in the January transfer window.

According to the report, Chelsea had an agreement in place with Leeds over the transfer of the Brazil international, but the winger wanted to join only Barcelona. Raphinha eventually got the move that he wanted. And Chelsea lost out. Without doubt, the former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners have learnt their lesson and are ready to force through the transfer.

Given a chance, Mudryk would reportedly prefer Arsenal to Chelsea if it came down to a straight decision between the two London rivals.

Arsenal have been pursuing Mudryk since the start of the transfer window, but had their initial £52 million bid rejected, and have not been able to reach an agreement with Shakhtar despite upping their offer to £62 million, with Shakhtar holding out for around £85 million.

Chelsea are now looking to hijack the move, and are trying to lure Mudryk to Stamford Bridge instead. The Blues are “hopeful” that he will join them after holding “positive” talks with Shakhtar, but Mudryk would prefer to move to Arsenal, according to The Guardian.

Mudryk has hinted at his preference to join Arsenal in recent days, as he posted on Instagram showing himself watching the Gunners when they beat West Ham on Boxing Day. He also tuned in for their next game against Brighton, and labelled Mikel Arteta and Roberto De Zerbi, his former boss at Shakhtar, “2 top coach”.

He went on to like a meme on social media showing him behind bars alongside the caption #FreeMudryk, as he hinted that he is running out of patience with getting his move away from Shakhtar.

Arsenal are aiming to bring in a forward this month after losing Gabriel Jesus to injury. They are yet to add to their squad, though, as they wait to see how things pan out with Mudryk.

Chelsea have been busy in the opening week of the transfer window, signing Benoit Badiashile from Monaco, plus Ivorian striker David Datro Fofana and Brazilian teenager Andrey Santos.

• A Tell / Telegraph report