Arsenal have been heavily linked with Shakhtar Donetsk star Mykhaylo Mudryk in recent months.
The Gunners reportedly had sights on the Ukraine international during the summer.
However, according to The Express, Edu baulked at his £50million valuation.
Mudryk stayed put at Shakhtar, but he kept speculation alive just days after the transfer window shut.
He told CBS Sports: “Yes, I think every guy dreams about playing in the Premier League.
“Arsenal is a very good team, very good coach. I like the way they play.
“Yes, from my side, I can’t say no, but a transfer is not only my decision.”
Since then, Mudryk has gone from strength to strength, getting more and more admiring glances his way.
This season, the 21-year-old has registered an impressive six goals and seven assists from 11 outings.
Better still, three goals and two assists have come in the Champions League, showing he can play at the highest level.
Now, Shakhtar deputy sporting director Carlo Nicolini has confirmed that Arsenal are eyeing Mudryk.
As well as the Gunners, Manchester City are also in the frame for the youngster, who has been likened to Kaka.
And Nicolini suggested that Arsenal and City are the frontrunners by virtue of being able to “spend right away”.
This is in comparison with “the Italians” and their “low proposals”.
‘Oscillating between Arsenal and Manchester City?’
However, Nicolini stressed that, if Arsenal or any other suitors want Mudryk, they must fork out over £86million.
“The headlights are on him, but I say that the Italians always come later,” he told Calciomercato.it’s program, TV Play, via Sport Witness.
“Now it is easy to observe him, but it was possible to do it before. The Italians bring low proposals, we don’t even sit down to negotiate.
“There are many English candidates, there is the Spanish on duty, the French on duty, but now it takes the right amount to take him away.
Together with Mbappè, Leao and Vinicius, Mudryk is the strongest player in that position.
“Oscillating between Arsenal and Manchester City? They are two teams that have taken an interest in the player.
“But there are also other clubs that can spend right away.”
Nicolini then rubbished reports claiming Shakhtar value Mudryk at around £50million.
He stressed that they value the ‘absolutely stunning‘ player as much as Manchester United’s Antony.
“Is €40m enough to buy him? We do not speak to these figures,” said Nicolini.
“Not even for €50m, we don’t even call the president to communicate the offer. We value Mudryk more than Antony of Manchester United, who cost €100m.
“We are not obliged to sell, we do not want to make phenomena. We don’t want to shoot figures that aren’t realistic. But in this team, he is the most decisive.
“If you want to take on certain players who make a difference in the top clubs, you also need the right money.”