Arsenal may struggle to sell Oleksandr Zinchenko this summer due to his high wages, despite significant interest surfacing in the player, Arsenal Insider understands.
Zinchenko has hardly featured for the Gunners this season, starting just four Premier League games thus far.
The likes of Myles Lewis-Skelly and Riccardo Calafiori have usurped the Ukrainian in the pecking order at left-back, leaving him surplus to requirements at the Emirates.
Borussia Dortmund were linked with Zinchenko in January, and the German club could be one of those looking to revisit this interest this summer, as Arsenal look to move on from the former Manchester City man.
Arsenal could struggle to sell Oleksandr Zinchenko despite interest
Zinchenko waxed lyrical about Arsenal’s squad depth in April, but in reality, it’s the increased depth at left-back which has seen him lose his value in Mikel Arteta’s ensemble.
The Spaniard now favours Lewis-Skelly, Calafiori and even Jurrien Timber on the left-hand side of his defence, and the 28-year-old is subsequently on the chopping block.
Several teams are reportedly interested in acquiring Zinchenko’s services, although transfer expert Graeme Bailey told Arsenal Insider that the Gunners may find it difficult to find a buyer.
“There is interest there from a few teams,” he said.
“Obviously, he’s on very good money. I think he’s one of those who, and we see it all over the Premier League, trying to move players on is easier said than done.
“He’s on good Premier League money and his contract is going up and up, it’s a cumulative deal, as most of them are in the Premier League.
“I do know there is interest in Germany, Italy and Spain, there really is. But, it depends on what the player wants to do, and his wages.
“Do we see him going out on loan? Possibly, but I think Arsenal would want the majority of his wages covered, which again would cause issues.”
Arsenal need to find a Premier League suitor for Oleksandr Zinchenko
Arsenal fans described Zinchenko as a ‘world beater’ after his excellent performance against Ipswich last month.
The Ukraine captain is a supremely talented footballer who has plenty to offer, but that isn’t Arsenal’s issue in terms of selling him.
The problem is that Zinchenko is purportedly earning £150,000 a week (via Capology), a hefty wage that the majority of clubs in Europe cannot afford to pay.
For example, this pay package would make him the third highest earner at prospective suitor Dortmund, behind Niklas Sule and Serhou Guirassy.
It’s unlikely that even the top clubs in Spain, Germany or Italy would be willing to fork out a reasonable transfer fee and pay these wages for a left-back.
Thus, either he’ll have to take a pay cut, or the Gunners will have to accept an extremely modest fee, if they want to move him on.
Alternatively, the Emirates hierarchy could start looking for clubs in the Premier League who can afford to pay both his transfer fee and wages, who may be interested in Zinchenko.
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