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LONDON – Oleksandr Zinchenko is expected to complete a move to Arsenal as Manchester City’s overhaul continues.
The Ukraine international has previously been resistant to leaving the Etihad Stadium but is likely to bring a close to his six-year stay.
The 25-year-old is hoping for more permanent game time after making just 15 appearances as City won the English Premier League title last season.
Sportsmail revealed Arsenal’s interest in May and he is reported to be valued at around £35m by City. The two clubs are thrashing out a deal, with hope finances are agreed over the coming days.
Mikel Arteta is keen to bring in Zinchenko, capable of playing at left back and in midfield, for additional versatility within the squad as they hunt for a return to the Champions League.
The pair enjoyed a strong relationship when Arteta was Pep Guardiola’s assistant in the north west and Zinchenko’s profile has grown over recent seasons.
City have a history of not standing in the way of players who want to look elsewhere for the guarantee of more games should they receive an acceptable bid.
Raheem Sterling has been this summer’s highest profile departure after sealing a £50m switch to Chelsea. Nathan Ake was also open to the idea of joining Thomas Tuchel’s side but Chelsea would not match City’s valuation.
Guardiola is pleased to retain Ake’s services in a stellar line up of centre halves.
Zinchenko though is set to be reunited with Gabriel Jesus, who has been in pre-season with the Gunners after a £45m transfer was agreed earlier in the transfer window.
City have remained tight-lipped on new signings, with Marc Cucarella a target, although Brighton value the full back at £50m.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are having a busy summer, having wrapped up the signing of Gabriel Jesus – also from City – along with Fabio Vieira, Marquinhos and Matt Turner.
Jesus has made a fast start to life with the Gunners, scoring a brace in a 5-3 pre-season friendly win over Nurnberg last weekend.
‘’I’m so, so proud. I’m proud to be here at this big club,’’ the striker told Arsenal club media.
‘’I’ve completed four or five days together with the lads, and I just want to say thank you to everyone at Arsenal because they make me feel at home. Everyone is talking, coming to me and saying ‘good luck, we are happy to have you here’, and I’m happy to be here as well. That makes me feel at home.’’
‘’He’s all energy. You see his enthusiasm, he’s always smiling, he’s always talking to his teammates and apart from that I think he brings a different level of desire and commitment and enthusiasm, so I think it’s really good,’’ Arsenal boss Arteta said of Jesus.
‘’That’s why we brought him here, to put the ball in the back of the net and obviously for his confidence and for him to believe in what we are doing I think it’s really important and he’s settled really well.
‘’I know him really well because I worked with him before and I know that there’s not going to be any issue there.’’ – The Daily Mail
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter