Ajax have reached a ‘verbal agreement’ with Arsenal to sign defender Oleksandr Zinchenko on loan for the remainder of the season, according to De Telegraaf.
The Ukraine international joined Nottingham Forest on a temporary basis from the Gunners last summer, but the move has not worked out as planned for him.
Zinchenko has been a fringe player under manager Sean Dyche recently, and the left-back is now poised to cut short his loan spell with the Tricky Trees.
The paperwork is being finalised for the process, and the 29-year-old will then join Ajax on loan, who have agreed to cover his entire weekly wages.
Ajax have scheduled a Tuesday medical for Zinchenko, whose contract with Arsenal expires on June 30.
The Dutch giants plan to sign him on a long-term basis after the expiration of his Gunners contract.
Arsenal set to part ways with Zinchenko
Zinchenko signed for the Gunners from Manchester City in a £32 million deal in July 2022. He had a good debut campaign under manager Mikel Arteta.
He made 27 league appearances in his first two seasons at the club, but his game time was significantly reduced last term after Riccardo Calafiori’s arrival and Myles Lewis-Skelly’s emergence.
Zinchenko is good with the ball at his feet, but he has been defensively vulnerable. A loan move to Forest has not worked out well, and he is now set for a new challenge in the Eredivisie.
The defender had a solitary loan spell with PSV Eindhoven (2016/17) during his time with Man City. The Eredivisie is less intense and tactical than the Premier League. It could suit his playing style.
Zinchenko can operate as a number six aside from the left-back role. Arteta was never tempted to try him in midfield, but he could get minutes from both positions at the Amsterdam outfit.
Arsenal are set to release Zinchenko in the summer with no plans to renew his contract.
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