Gundogan has proved a useful addition to the Barcelona side, and even scored his first goal for the club during October's El Classico defeat to Real Madrid.2022 World Cup, and a move to the Premier League was a serious option.
Of course, Felix would end up in the English capital, but the former Benfica starlet joined Arsenal's London rivals Chelsea instead. The Blues forked out close to £10 million to bring him on loan until the end of the season, yet his 20-game career for the two-time European champions would only end up rendering four goals. Ouch!
Dusan Vlahovic
Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic
Rewinding to January 2022 for this one now, at a time when Arsenal were locked in a battle for top four with north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Aiming to bolster their attack ahead of the run in, reports were gathering pace about Arsenal springing a move for deadly striker
Dusan Vlahovic.
The Serbian international had been tearing Serie A to shreds with Fiorentina and just before the January transfer window, Vlahovic had equalled Cristiano Ronaldo's record for the most goals in Italy's top flight for a calendar year. Such strong performances understandably lead to interest from the Premier League, with Arsenal one of the clubs said to be enquiring about his services.
Ultimately though, the finances would prove too much for Arsenal to justify, as Juventus ended up signing the marksman for an eye-catching £66 million. Netting 27 goals in 72 appearances ever since, Vlahovic has proved a successful enough signing for the Serie A side, with some claims that the Gunners still to this day are missing a striker of his quality.
Mykhailo Mudryk
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk
Finally then, Mykhailo Mudryk, who many had assumed would sign on the dotted line at the Emirates Stadium, only to end up signing for Chelsea in the same window Felix joined the Blues too. Unlike Felix though, Mudryk had looked destined to join Arsenal, only for the deal to collapse at the last minute.
It was reported back in January 2023 that Mudryk was on the verge of joining the Gunners, as Arsenal closed in on a deal said to be in the region of £80 million. A figure that would've broken the club's transfer record, Mudryk himself appeared to be gearing up for the move, with the Ukrainian international having shared pictures on social media of him watching Arsenal matches.Instead, Chelsea would jump in at the last minute and pry Mudryk away from Arsenal, who joined from Shakhtar Donetsk for the increased price of £88.5 million. A significant rise from the bids Arsenal had tabled, meaning Shakhtar were more inclined to accept Chelsea's offer.
The jury remains out as to whether Mudryk's Chelsea switch has been a successful one, but the winger did manage to score against Arsenal, netting his second goal of the Premier League season against the side he could've easily ended up playing for himself.
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