Arsenal would ideally like to sell Oleksandr Zinchenko in the summer transfer window, Arsenal Insider understands.
Zinchenko has fallen in the pecking order at the Emirates this season, and is now firmly behind the likes of Myles Lewis-Skelly, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber at left-back.
Starting just two Premier League games all season, the Ukrainian is on the periphery of Mikel Arteta’s squad at this point, and is somewhat surplus to requirements.
However, Zinchenko impressed in Martin Odegaard’s position against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night, and has generally performed well in the middle of the park as a substitute in recent weeks.
This new role could give the defender a new lease of life in N5, although the plan remains to sanction his departure once this season has concluded.
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Arsenal would like to sell Oleksandr Zinchenko
Arriving from Manchester City for £30 million back in 2022, Zinchenko enjoyed an excellent debut campaign in North London.
His second year, however, was plagued by injury and inconsistency on the pitch, and he finished the season behind Takehiro Tomiyasu in the pecking order.
This term, the emergence of Lewis-Skelly from the academy, and new signing Calafiori, has seen him no longer become an option at left-back.
Now, the 28-year-old has a year left on his contract and looks to be in the departure lounge at London Colney.
However, Arsenal Insider have been told that while Arsenal would ideally move Zinchenko on, they won’t push him out the exit door and he’ll be used if he stays put.
The Ukraine international is a popular figure in the Gunners’ dressing room, while Arteta is a huge admirer of the player himself.
The Arsenal hierarchy will happily let him leave if he wishes, and that’s their preferred outcome, but the situation is far from having a clear solution at this stage.
The likelihood is that the ex-City man will want to leave for more regular minutes elsewhere.
Having said that, Arteta claimed Zinchenko is a viable midfield option for Arsenal moving forward, and there could be sufficient minutes for him in this position next season to convince him to remain at the club for the final year of his contract.
Thomas Partey could leave Arsenal, while Jorginho has agreed a deal with Flamengo ahead of the summer, creating space for Zinchenko in the middle of the park.
Oleksandr Zinchenko on his Arsenal future
It seems as though the decision will ultimately come down to whether the player is satisfied with his squad role at the Emirates.
It would appear that Zinchenko hasn’t decided whether he is satisfied with his minutes yet.
Speaking to the media after Wednesday night’s game against PSV, he said on his future: “I don’t know yet to be honest. If I would know, I could tell [you]. It’s still a long way to go until the end of the season.
“I think we are at the stage and the most interesting period of the season, where every single game is a final and you never know what is going to happen in football.
“Honestly, I am so happy to be part of this amazing club and team. It is really a joy to be close to these guys.
“Whenever the team and head coach needs me, I am there. In any position they need me, I am there to help.
“Even if I will be in the stands, I will try to make an impact as much as I can, to push the others, just to hug someone, whatever! It is really a joy to be here.”
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