It’s no secret that Arsenal technical director Edu is keen on enticing Ukrainian winger Mykhaylo Mudryk to the club, with a report from The Sun last month claiming that the Gunners are among a number of Premier League clubs – which includes Everton, Newcastle United and Brentford – in signing the player.

Ligue 1 side Nice were willing to pay £25m for the winger, although Shakhtar Donetsk are looking for double that figure. His Champions League performances this season have been impressive, as he has scored three times and registered two assists on the elite European stage, suggesting he could shine for a bigger club than Shakhtar.

The price tag may put Edu off, though, and Mikel Arteta could land a potential alternative in Villarreal winger Alex Baena, who was linked with the club in September.

The 21-year-old has a release clause of £31m, which makes him a much more affordable candidate than Mudryk.

Baena has also significantly impressed for the Spanish club this season, scoring eight goals in all competitions while chipping in with a further four assists.

It’s his displays on the continent which have allowed the winger to really showcase his talent, and this has perked up the interest of potential suitors.

In just five Europa Conference League matches, he averaged a sensational SofaScore rating of 7.8/10 and registered five goal contributions (four goals and one assist) for Villarreal.

By making two key passes per match and creating two more big chances, Baena has a creative spark which allows him to provide opportunities for others, and he has shown wonderful maturity in his performances at just 21 years of age.

The Spaniard is currently the highest-rated player in the Europa Conference League this season, and this could well be a sign of things to come from him in the future.

If Arsenal are priced out of a move for Mudryk in the near future, then Baena is the ideal alternative, and he could excel in the Premier League.