(Football news) Arsenal are close to signing Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City. Having already recruited Gabriel Jesus from the reigning champions this summer transfer window, the north London side are now also aiming to bring his team-mate from the Etihad stadium to the Emirates Stadium. The clubs are in constant contact over a potential transfer and it is believed that City have agreed a £30m fee for the 25-year-old’s sale. Arsenal quickly moved on to prioritising Zinchenko after missing out on Ajax’s Lisandro Martinez.

Arsenal would now be acquiring a player with whom manager Mikel Arteta has been keen to reunite. They worked together when Arteta was assistant to Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium and are known to maintain a strong relationship since then. Zinchenko arrived from Russian side FC Ufa in 2016 and still has two years left on his City contract. He tends to operate in midfield for his country but Zinchenko was mainly used as left back by Guardiola. This is a specific area of the pitch where Arsenal are looking to strengthen as Nuno Tavares might join Marsille on loan. He is certainly value for money since his versatility is certainly an appeal and also his experience in the Premier League counts for something.

Zinchenko has enjoyed a hugely successful career at City; winning the Premier League and the League Cup four times. He has also won one FA Cup and played in the 2021 Champions League final. City are also in the market for a new left-back, with Brighton and Hove Albion's Marc Cucurella thought to be the main target. Mikel Arteta was really pushing to sign Lisandro Martinez from Ajax this summer transfer. The Ajax centre back was viewed as the main target because of his versatility, but he is set to join Manchester United. This was a big blow for Arsenal, but Edu wasted no time in making Zincheno Arsenal’s main target after they understood that a deal for Martinez was not possible, and it looks like the Gunners are to get a four time Premier League winner.

Arsenal went into the market looking for a central midfielder and a backup left-back option to provide cover for Tierney but in Zinchenko, Mikel Arteta has found a player who can play in both positions. Zinchenko will now become Arsenal’s fifth signing of this window after Marquinhos, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Gabriel Jesus. The Gunners have also been looking to bolster their midfield options this summer, with the club targeting someone who is comfortable playing on the left side of a central three. That’s the role where Granit Xhaka usually operates in after Arteta switched to a 4-3-3 formation. Xhaka as a No.8 is far from his favoured role, so Arsenal have been looking at strengthening in that department and have targeted Lyon’s Lucas Paqueta but as of yet the club have not bid for him

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