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Arsenal Transfers: Gunners working on Oleksandr Zinchenko deal
After failing in their pursuit of Ajax’s Lisandro Martinez, Arsenal have now turned their attentions to Manchester City’s Oleksandr Zinchenko and are attempting to broker a deal for the Ukrainian international.
The Gunners viewed the versatile Martinez as a player who could provide depth for Kieran Tierney at left-back, but Manchester United have since pulled ahead in the race for the Argentine. The Red Devils are closing in on a €60m agreement with Ajax for their 2021/22 Player of the Season.
Ajax’s lofty valuation deterred Arsenal, who are now working on a deal for the similarly flexible Zinchenko. While he’s primarily functioned as a left-back for City, the 25-year-old plays in a more advanced midfield role for his national team and Pep Guardiola has said in the past that Zinchenko’s future lies in midfield.
Thus, the Gunners could be killing two birds with one stone should they bring the Ukrainian in. Zinchenko could not only provide cover for Tierney, but he’d also be an option to play the left-sided #8 role.
Arsenal working on deal for Manchester City’s Oleksandr Zinchenko
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Arsenal have opened talks with City for Zinchenko. The Cityzens are open to letting the 25-year-old leave the Etihad this summer providing that their valuation of the player is met.
The Ukrainian, who has lifted four Premier League titles with City, would be open to leaving the champions in search of regular first-team football elsewhere. Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, is keen to reunite with another City player after the Gunners moved for Gabriel Jesus earlier in the window.
Despite the likely departure of Nathan Ake, Zinchenko’s minutes at the Etihad are set to take a dive next season with Brighton’s Marc Cucurella being lined up by the club.
For Arsenal, Zinchenko would be a brilliant acquisition. He’d be perfect for Arteta, and potentially a better option for the Gunners than Martinez considering his Premier League experience and – likely – lower cost.