Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is reportedly ready to raid his old club Manchester City for Oleksandr Zinchenko and has a special plan in place for the Ukraine international.
The Spaniard is already chasing City forward Gabriel Jesus, with the Gunners’ need for a new striker currently their top priority. However, it looks like Arsenal are now preparing a double swoop on the Premier League champions.
Arteta also wants to bring in a back-up left-back and a central midfielder. And that’s where he sees Zinchenko fitting both roles for the north London club.
The 25-year-old is incredibly versatile, and while he only really plays at left-back for City he normally lines up in midfield for his country.
The Daily Mail states that Arteta’s belief is that Zinchenko is better as a midfielder. To that end, he would use him there if Arsenal can convince City to sell.
Arteta also believes that his club have a better chance of signing the player, if he tells Zinchenko that is where he wants him to play regularly.
Zinchenko – like Jesus – enjoyed a strong relationship with Arteta when the Spaniard was working as Guardiola’s assistant at The Etihad.
The former Ufa star made 28 appearances for City this season, dishing out five assists.
Pep ready to let squad players leave
The report adds that Guardiola, as with Jesus, will not stand in Zinchenko’s way. However, it will have to be a decent deal for City to part ways with the player.
City do, however, already have a replacement lined up in the form of Brighton star Marc Cucurella.
As for Jesus, Arsenal will have to act quickly to land the attacker, with Tottenham also keen.
Spurs view Jesus as a perfect back-up for Harry Kane, with Conte wanting another striker on board after Champions League football was confirmed at Arsenal’s expense on the final day of the season.
Zinchenko would be a steal
The Ukraine star is currently valued at around the £22.5million mark by transfermarkt. That sort of fee would be an absolute bargain for a player of that quality.
Despite Pep’s preference to play Zincheko at full-back, he looks so comfortable in midfield and would bring extra quality to Arsenal’s engine room.
He would be a real box-to-box presence for the Gunners. However, that ability to play at least two positions would make him a valuable asset.
