Andrea Berta will be tested with the ‘creative’ sale of one Arsenal star, it could be key to Mikel Arteta’s recruitment

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Arsenal’s new sporting director Andrea Berta will have to be ‘creative’ over the sale of Oleksandr Zinchenko this summer, Arsenal Insider understands.

Arsenal are focused on clearing some wages this transfer window as well as bringing Mikel Arteta the attacking reinforcements that he requires.

Reiss Nelson could re-join Fulham this summer after the Hale End graduate saw his loan spell cut short at Craven Cottage by undergoing hamstring surgery.

Fulham are also eyeing a move for Zinchenko and whilst the Ukrainian international is attracting plenty of interest across Europe, Berta is going to have a difficult task parting with the Gunners’ star.

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Arsenal facing difficulties selling Oleksandr Zinchenko due to his wages

AC Milan are interested in Zinchenko but with the defender currently earning £200k a week as per Capology, the Gunners are struggling to find a club willing to match his salary.

Zinchenko could run down his Arsenal contract and leave for free next summer but Arsenal want to find a way to get the Ukraine star off their books this window – preferably with a transfer fee.

TBR Football’s chief transfer expert Graeme Bailey has revealed that Arsenal will need to be ‘creative’ in their attempts to sell Zinchenko.

Bailey stated: “Zinchenko’s got potential interest from all around the place. Zinchenko is a bit more difficult because he’s on big money, so it’s not easy to get him out. I think they might have to get creative with him.”

Arsenal could use Oleksandr Zinchenko in a swap deal this summer

Arsenal notoriously underwhelm when it comes to selling players and Zinchenko’s contract situation could see yet another player leaving the club for well under his true value.

One strategy the Gunners have underused in the past is exploring swap deal options. Zinchenko could be used in a deal for Rafael Leao from AC Milan with Berta taking advantage of the Italian’s interest.

If Arsenal use Zinchenko to help land one of their attacking targets or a promising young player from an interested side then it would help to reduce the loss on the 28-year-old.

Zinchenko was signed for £30m from Manchester City in the summer of 2022 and although it is highly unlikely the club will recoup a figure anywhere near that amount, they can still make use of his talents in the market.