Arsenal ought to now be hoping that the latest transfer rumour concerning one Mikel Arteta signing is true and comes to fruition.
Arsenal face a challenge when it comes to selling players this summer.
Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu need to create space in the first team squad to accommodate new arrivals. However, the Gunners have not not always excelled in fetching top fees for their outgoing talent.
This summer, Edu must exceed expectations when it comes to Arsenal sales. The North London club will therefore be hoping that several suitors come forward for the higher profile players that they are willing to offload.
Oleksandr Zinchenko is one such player who may now be deemed surplus to requirements at the Emirates Stadium, but the left-back still ought to boast plenty of market value.
Bayern Munich interest in Oleksandr Zinchenko could fund Arsenal left-back search
As such, Arteta ought to welcome Bayern Munich’s apparent interest in Zinchenko. Vincent Kompany is reportedly keen to make the Ukrainian defender his first signing since taking on the job in charge of the German giants.
Zinchenko was not at his best for Arsenal this season. He is now arguably not the club’s first choice left-back, with Takehiro Tomiyasu seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order, and perhaps even Jurrien Timber too.
On top of that, Arsenal are keen to sign another left-back this summer. Selling Zinchenko ought to bring in the funds needed to acquire his replacement, especially if the Gunners can fetch a fee in the region of the £32 million they paid to prise he defender away from Manchester City in the summer of 2022.
Why Oleksandr Zinchenko is no longer the right fit for Arsenal
When he first arrived at the Emirates Stadium, Zinchenko transformed the way Arsenal play. With his inverted interpretation of the full-back role, he allowed Arteta’s side to enjoy a numerical advantage in the middle of the park, and he was able to function as an auxiliary playmaker.
However, Zinchenko is considered a defensive liability, and his recurrent injury issues mean that Arteta cannot rely upon the 27-year-old to be fit and available when called upon. He lacks pace, physicality, and no longer feels like an ideal fit for this Arsenal team which looks to have evolved beyond him.
Zinchenko could easily become something of a drain on the Gunners’ resources in future, so Arteta will be hoping that Bayern Munich do in fact come forward with a fair offer before long.