Representatives of Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko are reportedly in talks over a summer move to AC Milan. The 28-year-old only started five Premier League games last season, and with one year remaining on his current deal, this window may be the Gunners' final opportunity to cash in.
With four Premier League titles, five domestic cups and bags of experience on his CV, the sale of Zinchenko could still fetch Arsenal a handsome transfer fee. Manager Mikel Arteta already has enough cover at left-back, even with Kieran Tierney set to re-join Celtic once his contract expires at the end of the month, as Myles Lewis-Skelly has competition from Riccardo Calafiori, Jakub Kiwior and Jurrien Timber.
That has left Zinchenko surplus to requirements, and Milan are now eyeing him up as a possible replacement for Saudi-bound Theo Hernandez. The Rossoneri are only expected to strike if Hernandez moves on, but the Frenchman has reportedly indicated a willingness to join Al-Hilal.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Milan sporting director Igli Tare has been in contact with the intermediaries handling Zinchenko's seemingly inevitable Arsenal exit. And it is understood that the Ukrainian international would be keen to head to the San Siro.
He would likely be forced to take a pay cut to make it happen, with his Arsenal deal landing him £150,000 a week. And the report adds that discussions to find a compromise are ongoing.
Arsenal paid £32million to sign Zinchenko from Manchester City in the summer of 2022. If he moves on to Milan, the transfer fee would not be expected to exceed £17m.
Zinchenko made 27 Premier League appearances in each of his first two Arsenal seasons, but that figure dropped to just 15 last term as Lewis-Skelly made the left-back spot his own. The former Shakhtar Donetsk academy star can also play as a central midfielder, as he has done for his country many times.
Zinchenko could become the third left-back to leave Arsenal this summer as Tierney is heading north of the border from the start of next month and Nuno Tavares has seen a loan move to Lazio made permanent.
A host of other senior figures have also departed. Raheem Sterling and Neto are back at Chelsea and Bournemouth respectively after disappointing loan spells, and Jorginho has joined Flamengo on a free transfer after running down his contract.