Arsenal appear to have learned from their failed pursuit of Mykhailo Mudryk as they look to finalise the signing of Declan Rice from West Ham.
Arsenal were heavily linked with Mudryk back in January, but ended up missing out on the winger to Chelsea despite both sides offering the same amount. Shakthar Donetsk's chief executive Sergei Palkin explained at the time that the main reason why Mudryk joined Chelsea instead of Arsenal was down to the structure of the deal, with Chelsea's add-ons viewed as more "achievable and realistic".
In an interview with the Athletic back in January, Palkin revealed: "Overall, it was the same. Not approximately the same — it was the same figure. The fixed part, variable part, bonuses. But if you look inside the fixed part and bonuses, it was completely different. Different time [schedule] of the payments, different kinds of bonuses.
"Yes, we can talk about bonuses, but these bonuses should be somehow achievable and realistic, let's say. Therefore, in this case, Chelsea was much more serious and fair in some points. When we met Chelsea, we stayed all together. For you to understand the context, it was for nine or 10 hours.
"They invited the player and explained to us the whole project. We realised that, yes, if you look right now, Chelsea have some kinds of problems but it is normal because they have a transition period from one owner to another. It is understandable. They would like to change a lot.
"So when they explain to you the whole story and you look for the next two, three, four, five years, then you see they have a serious project. I believe they will build one of the best clubs in the world because I am telling you, they are very serious in all directions: sports science, the stadium side, the commercial side, on all things. For us, they looked very ambitious."
And Arsenal have had similar issues in their pursuit of Rice. Their third bid of £105m met West Ham's asking price, but the structure of the deal did not with Arsenal offering to pay £75m up front, and £25m spread over the five years of Rice's contract plus £5m in add-ons.
However, they appear to have learned from their mistakes with Mudryk, with the two clubs now locked in talks in an attempt to restructure the deal. Mirror Football understands they are edging closer to an agreement, with Arsenal willing to pay the £25m in shorter instalments in a bid to get it done as soon as possible.
Arsenal have also completed the signing of Kai Havertz from Chelsea, with the Germany international making a £65m switch to the Emirates, while Ajax defender Jurrien Timber is viewed as another key transfer target as Mikel Arteta plots a renewed Premier League title bid next season.
