Artem Bondarenko has confirmed that Turkish clubs have shown interest in signing him during the transfer window, though he remains committed to his current team. The midfielder from "Shakhtar" Donetsk addressed the speculation surrounding his future while speaking to the club's press service.
"They reached out. There are rumors, there are conversations. But it's part of football when someone is interested in you, there are negotiations. It's normal. I'm part of Shakhtar. For now, this is my home, so it would be inappropriate to talk about other options or other clubs," Bondarenko stated.
Trabzonspor reportedly attempted to acquire the 24-year-old Ukrainian last summer but couldn't reach an agreement on the transfer fee. The Turkish club apparently renewed their interest during the winter transfer window as well.
Bondarenko isn't just any squad player, by the way. His stats speak volumes about his importance to the "miners" – 41 appearances last season with 12 goals and 8 assists. That's quite productive for a midfielder, isn't it?
The Ukrainian international's current contract with "Shakhtar" runs until summer 2028, giving the Donetsk club a strong position in any potential negotiations.
Interestingly, Bondarenko isn't the only "Shakhtar" player attracting attention from foreign clubs. Reports suggest that goalkeeper Riznyk has caught the eye of a Premier League team. Will the Ukrainian champions manage to keep their key players as European clubs circle?
