Arsenal Transfers: Joao Cancelo & Kyle Walker key to Oleksandr Zinchenko deal

Mikel Arteta has long been an admirer of Oleksandr Zinchenko, and a former City player has detailed how two full-backs could hold the key to a summer deal.

Arsenal are going through their list of players who they feel could improve the squad. Names such as Gabriel Jesus, Youri Tielemans, Serge Gnabry, and more have been mentioned.

One player that has long been linked with a move to north London is Ukrainian Oleksandr Zinchenko. The 25-year-old is one of the best technicians in the City squad, and his versatility is something that Mikel Arteta rates highly.

Former Manchester City player says Joao Cancelo & Kyle Walker hold the key to Oleksandr Zinchenko’s future

With a deal not reported to be close, former Manchester City midfielder Danny Mills believes that City’s current full-backs could prove decisive in getting a deal over the line.

Both Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo are perhaps in the conversation for being the best in the world at their respective positions. This means that consistent game time will be hard for a player like Zinchenko, and that is where Mills says that it could help Arsenal secure a deal for the 25-year-old.

Mills spoke to Football Insider and detailed that the chance to be a regular starter for the Gunners could be vital to getting the versatile Ukrainian.

"“As a player, you always want to play.” Mills said.“Unfortunately, at Man City, with Cancelo at left-back and Walker at right-back, it’s very difficult to play week in, week out. Then the decision is ‘Do I have to just drop down a level to play week in, week out, or do I stay as a bit-part player?’ Only he can make that decision.“Most footballers would love to play week in, week out. That’s what you do, that’s the whole point of training every single day to play games.”"

Mills does have a point. At City, Zinchenko only played 28 times across all competitions, with 15 of them in the league. In contrast, Walker (31 appearances in all competitions) and Cancelo (36 league appearances, 52 in all competitions) got the lion’s share of game time.

Arsenal would likely pick the 25-year-old to start and play week in and week out. As Mills put it, will he be okay dropping down a level in search of consistent playing time? Or will he fight for his place at the Etihad?

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If he chooses the latter, it is hard to envision Pep Guardiola putting Zinchenko ahead of either Walker or Cancelo consistently. Manchester City’s embarrassment of riches could be critical in Arsenal getting a deal done.

Talks with fellow City star Gabriel Jesus are said to be at an advanced stage, and the Gunners could pull off a double swoop from the reigning Premier League champions.

Still, with a long way to go and the transfer window opening soon, Zinchenko will have a decision to make, and Arsenal hopes he chooses consistent playing time over being a bit-part player.