Shakhtar Donetsk’s CEO Sergei Palkin is concerned about reports suggesting Arsenal, Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United could raid the Ukrainian giants in the summer, speaking to Denisov Time.
The Premier League might have decided against allowing top-flight clubs to bring in players from Ukraine and Russia on short-term deals until the end of the season – unlike Ligue 1, for instance – but there is nothing to stop Pedrinho, Dodo and David Neres heading to England when the transfer window opens in a couple of weeks.
Wolves held ‘advanced’ talks with £18 million former Benfica forward Pedrinho recently. West Ham want Brazil international Neres (GMS). Arsenal, meanwhile, are looking to bring in a new right-back in the shape of £17 million flyer Dodo (UOL).
WHICH SHAKHTAR STARS WILL MOVE TO ENGLAND?
“FIFA gave (Shakhtar’s foreign players) the opportunity to leave until the end of the season without asking us. This is not a full-fledged transfer,” says Palkin, referring to a deal that saw Tete join Lyon on a short-term basis.
“For Neres, Dodo and Pedrinho, the question (about their futures) is open. They have an agent who works on that. I hope there will be some result. So far, everything is very difficult to move them on.
“Rumours reach me that many agents hope that, after June 30, they will take the players as free- agents and do what they want. This bothers us a little.
“But the UEFA president (Alexander Ceferin) has assured that he will help us prevent this from happening. If this happens, it calls into question the continued existence of the club. This is the worst thing we can expect.”
The indication, here, is that Shakhtar will do everything in their power to stop Pedrinho, Neres and Dodo leaving for free.
If Wolves, West Ham and Arsenal want them, well they’ll have to put their money where their mouth is.
“On the one hand I understand (the players). On the other hand, I have a bad attitude towards it,” Palkin adds. “Shakhtar has done enough for each of them.”
