Oleksandr Zinchenko is facing a possible transfer exit this summer, as clubs circle in on a potential deal for the Arsenal star.
The Ukrainian international helped transform Mikel Arteta and his team in 2022, joining from Premier League rivals Manchester City.
Arsenal took an immediate leap, going from missing out on Champions League qualification to pushing for the league title.
While Oleksandr Zinchenko played a huge part in that rise, as it stands, his place at the Emirates Stadium is uncertain.
With just one year left on his contract, and after a season with little game time, teams are starting to swoop in on a potential deal.
Arsenal must accept Oleksandr Zinchenko transfer offer from Fulham
Oleksandr Zinchenko is a transfer target for Fulham, as the London club look to swoop for another Arsenal star.
The defender could be a huge upgrade for the side, with Smith Rowe previously praising Zinchenko’s impact with the Gunners, as the pair could reunite again.
Reports had stated that Arsenal are holding out for £12.7 million to let Zinchenko leave, while Fulham are looking to offer £10 million.
It’s a deal that Stan Kroenke must urge Andrea Berta to accept, as it would actually register as a profit on the books.
Arsenal paid £30 million to sign Zinchenko from Manchester City in 2022, and while the £10 million offer may be a £20 million difference between the fees, it wouldn’t be registered as a loss.
Instead, that fee would be a profit, thanks to a financial rule called amortisation.
This process surrounds how player value depreciates over the length of a contract, reducing the transfer fee each year until it’s worth nothing at the end of the deal.
Zinchenko signed a four-year deal in 2022, with the transfer fee of £30 million, meaning it would reduce by £7.5 million per year over his contract.
| Transfer fee | £30m |
| Amortised value per year | £7.5m |
| Amortised fee so far | £22.5m |
| Account value left | £7.5m |
That means, if Fulham have offered £10 million, then there would be a profit of £2.5 million on his book value, as well as the money saved on wages.
For that reason, it only makes sense for the Kroenkes to push this deal through if it arrives.
- READ MORE: Inside the life of Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke from net worth and sports teams to businesses
Arsenal need to make several sales this summer
Zinchenko isn’t the only star who needs to be sold, though, with Arsenal looking to clear the squad and make some money.
Squad players like Fabio Vieira and Albert Sambi Lokonga didn’t play a role in the team last season and are open to an exit.
There are also questions for someone like Jakub Kiwior, who faces a possible move away over the summer.
There is a balance to be struck, though, given the injuries that Arsenal have faced in the past season.
Some would argue that the squad isn’t deep enough and that more additions are needed before sales.
That’s where the balance must be found, as the Gunners need those who will make an impact, alongside enough quality in depth to compete on all fronts.
While they would lose some of that with Zinchenko leaving, it could be time to cash in and look elsewhere.
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