Oleksandr Zinchenko exchanged pleasantries with fellow Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale as well as former Manchester City teammates Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker and John Stones following Ukraine's 2-0 defeat against England on Sunday evening.
However, it was a brief moment after the Euro 2024 qualifier at Wembley Stadium involving the versatile defender and Declan Rice that has sparked yet another transfer theory amongst some Gunners supporters on social media as rumours ramp up ahead of the summer window.
First half goals from Harry Kane and Saka ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides and once the final whistle blew Zinchenko - who captained Ukraine - was seen in conversation with his Arsenal teammate with Grealish in tow but briefly broke away once Rice made his way over.
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The pair shared a warm embrace and exchanged some words and whilst it can't be confirmed what was said, some Gunners fans have a theory that Zinchenko asked Rice if he was joining him in north London this summer.
And despite the fact that the West Ham United captain had his back towards the camera which means there was no way to discover if he replied to the Arsenal left-back, his body language has left supporters convinced that he told Zinchenko exactly what he wanted to hear.
@samiemc1 said: "Rice's response was yes", @07dnoa said: "Look at what Zinchenko does after Rice speaks, doesn't look like a reaction to a no", @arsenalpostman said: "Now its clear! Zinchenko: "are you joining?" Rice: "of course" and @Sandhu17deep said: "Rice deal is done.. today after the match Zinchenko asked him if he is joining and he obliged."
Now, there is a chance the pair do become teammates this summer as football.london understands Rice is a target for Arsenal and that there is optimism a deal can be done despite the club's transfer policy of not being dragged into a bidding war, nor overpaying for players.
And whilst the midfielder has been linked with a move to Chelsea, it's perhaps worth remembering that the north London outfit do hold the advantage given their current position in the Premier League table as Rice has already revealed the one condition for his next move.
"100% I want to play in the Champions League," he said, as per the Guardian in December 2022. "For the last two or three years I’ve been saying that. I’ve been playing consistently well for my club and I feel like I really want to keep pushing. I see my friends here who are playing Champions League and for big trophies.
"You only get one career and at the end you want to look back at what you’ve won and the biggest games you’ve played in."
Now on 69 points after beating Crystal Palace before the international break, if last season is any indicator with regard to the total needed for Champions League qualification then as things stand, Arsenal are one point away from confirming their return to Europe's top table for the 2023/24 campaign.
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