Target: Oleksandr Zinchenko
(Picture: Manchester City FC via Getty Ima)Arsenal will accelerate talks with Oleksandr Zinchenko this week, as they look to wrap up a move for the Manchester City wing-back.
The Gunners are expected to pay up to £35million for Zinchenko, with talks with City progressing well over the weekend.
A final fee is close to being finalised and Arsenal are also working to agree terms with the 25-year-old Ukraine international.
A key factor in those talks will be around the role Mikel Arteta has planned for Zinchenko, who is hungry for more regular starts than he has had at City in recent seasons.
Zinchenko is appealing to Arsenal because of his versatility and is a player who would strengthen them at left-back and also in midfield.
Arteta knows him well from his time working at City as assistant to Pep Guardiola. Zinchenko and Arteta have maintained a good relationship and, as was the case with the signing of Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal hope that will help talks progress positively and swiftly.
Arsenal are currently on a pre-season tour in the United States and Zinchenko is also in America with City. City are due to play games in Texas and Wisconsin this week, while Arsenal are based in Florida where they are due to face Orlando City and Chelsea this week.
Arsenal want a deal for Zinchenko wrapped up quickly, given that the season begins in under three weeks’ time, with the Gunners kicking off the season at Crystal Palace on Friday, August 5. City want to replace Zinchenko with a new left-back, with Brighton’s Marc Cucurella their preferred option.
Arsenal have made a good start to pre-season, beating Everton 2-0 in Baltimore over the weekend to make it three wins from three matches. Bukayo Saka and Jesus were both on the scoresheet against Everton, with the latter impressing Arteta at how quickly he has settled since his £45m move from City.
“He looks really sharp, really dynamic. He’s got a really good understanding with his team-mates straight away,” said Arteta. “They are looking for him, he’s generating chances, good connections around specific spaces we want to exploit with him especially, and, yeah, we’re really happy.
“He creates chaos, he creates uncertainty and he’s always on your shoulder. He’s a real threat and this is what we need.”
Arsenal have also signed Fabio Vieira from Porto for £34m this summer. They have also brought in Brazilian teenage winger Marquinhos for around £3m and USA goalkeeper Matt Turner.
