Granit Xhaka could link back up with an ex-Arsenal teammate if two summer transfers are sanctioned. The Swiss midfielder departed the Emirates Stadium back in the summer of 2023 to join German club Bayer Leverkusen in a £21million deal.
Under Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen went unbeaten in his first season at the club, which saw them win the Bundesliga title with Xhaka a key component in midfield.
Unsurprisingly, the following campaign did not go as well - with Leverkusen finishing second in the standings and 13 points behind Bayern Munich. Following that, wholesale changes have already taken place at BayArena with the first of those being Alonso leaving to replace Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.
Jeremie Frimpong has also left to sign for Liverpool and he will shortly be joined by Florian Wirtz at Anfield with a record deal worth £116.5million agreed. Jonathan Tah has also moved elsewhere with Bayern picking up his services as a free agent.
With former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag now at the Leverkusen helm, further exits have not been ruled out. Xhaka could be one of those with AC Milan planning to step up their interest in the 32-year-old, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
It has been claimed that a formal proposal is then expected to follow after more contacts that are scheduled to take place next week.
With a new era also underway at San Siro, it is hardly surprising a number of exits, and then arrivals, are on the horizon. Theo Hernandez departing looks likely and therefore a replacement left-back is needed with Oleksandr Zinchenko an option.
As per Sempre Milan, the Italian club's sporting director Igli Tare travelled to London in order to hold discussions with Arsenal for Zinchenko. The Ukraine international is expected to depart this summer, with Borussia Dortmund also interested.
However, if Massimiliano Allegri's side sign him alongside Xhaka, it will be an unlikely Arsenal reunion in Milan. The duo will also have the chance to see their old teammates yet again with the Rossoneri and the Gunners coming to blows for a pre-season friendly in Singapore on Wednesday, July 23.
Negotiations for Zinchenko could allow Arsenal to obtain all the information needed over a potential transfer for Rafael Leao. The Portugal international is one of many left-winger options for Mikel Arteta with Rodrygo and Nico Williams as others.
All three will require significant finances to sign, though, with Arsenal also likely to commit a large portion of their budget to signing a striker.