New Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta already has a point to prove this summer, he’s expected to mastermind a transfer window that will live long in the club’s history books.
By all accounts, Arsenal will sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad to start their summer, a feat that was beyond Premier League rivals Liverpool a year ago.
Of course, a lot of the work in signing Zubimendi was done by Edu Gaspar as well as Mikel Arteta — that’s not necessarily a deal Andrea Berta can solely take credit for.
The Italian will be predominantly judged on the striker Arsenal sign, the elite winger they bring in, and also the players they are able to sell this summer.
And over the last 12 months or so, it’s become clear that Oleksandr Zinchenko is one player who is now surplus to requirements at Arsenal, to put it bluntly.
Arsenal ready to accept big loss on Oleksandr Zinchenko
That being said, Italian outlet Gazzetta are now reporting that AC Milan are interested in Zinchenko this summer.
The Italian side are also keen on Jakub Kiwior according to the report, even if it does appear unlikely that both will end up in Milan.
Arsenal want to keep Kiwior, even if he might be keen on a return to Italy, a defender the club still value highly.
However, there should be more willingness on Arsenal’s part to sell Zinchenko, and according to the information, Arsenal would only demand €15m (£13m) for the Ukraine international this summer.
Oleksandr Zinchenko says sorry to PSV Eindhoven fans after scoring for Arsenal in the Champions League.
Photo by Vince Mignott/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
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Of course, back in 2022 Arsenal paid £32m to sign Zinchenko from Manchester City, a transformative signing for Arteta at the time.
Zinchenko was arguably the first player to master the inverted full-back role at Arsenal, one that Myles Lewis-Skelly now thrives in.
But given how Arsenal have moved on from Zinchenko over the last year or so, they are now ready to accept a £19m loss on the 28-year-old, partly because he’ll only have one year left on his contract this summer.
Oleksandr Zinchenko can help pay for Benjamin Sesko
That being said, news of Arsenal trying to raise funds is quite pertinent given Berta’s pursuit of Benjamin Sesko.
Arsenal are reluctant to pay Sesko’s increased asking price, and RB Leipzig’s stance has annoyed the striker.
Sesko is keen to sign for Arsenal this summer but the German club are demanding more than was originally agreed internally.
But if Arsenal are able to sell Zinchenko, who wouldn’t necessarily require a replacement, perhaps those funds could be added directly to the striker pot.
Arsenal are thought to be in a healthy financial position right now, but the club have always been mindful of PSR under Kroenke’s ownership.
As mentioned, Berta and Arteta are also targeting a new winger this summer, and Athletic Club’s Nico Williams is one of the main candidates to come in.
But whilst the winger’s wages have been seen as the biggest stumbling block towards a move, Arsenal have a new problem in their pursuit of Williams.