Mikel Arteta is heading into his seventh season as Arsenal manager and the pressure is now on more than ever to deliver the trophies which the fans at the Emirates desire.
The Spaniard’s time in north London has seen several ‘phases’ as the former Gunners midfielder has become the Premier League’s second longest-serving current manager behind Pep Guardiola, the third-longest in the entirety of the top four tiers of English football.
Arsenal approach the new season with optimism after finally landing the striker they desired in Viktor Gyokeres, while the likes of Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke have also arrived to bolster the Gunners’ ranks.
This has left room for exits as key players from years gone by may move on to pastures new in search of more first-team football. A possible exit for an early Arteta signing has emerged as the Gunners look to finalise their squad in the final weeks of the window.
Reported by Turkish journalist Elis Buse Arac on X, Arsenal have received an ‘official offer’ from Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce for Ukrainian full-back Oleksandr Zinchenko. The versatile defender found Premier League minutes hard to come by last season and may depart the Emirates as he approaches his 29th birthday later this year.
The report states that Mourinho intends to deploy Zinchenko in the No.6 position. The former Manchester City man has been known to play a variety of different roles during his time in the Premier League and is an accomplished performer in a range of positions, though he has most commonly been used as a left-back or inverted full-back in the past.
Previous reports by Arsenal Insider indicated that the Gunners are hoping to receive £13million for Zinchenko, though this figure could be negotiated down if Fenerbahce can reach an agreement with the player, who arrived at Arsenal for £30m in 2022.
Though an exit for Zinchenko may not appear related at face value, selling a couple of squad players for sizeable fees could be what Arsenal require in order to pursue a move for one of their biggest remaining transfer targets of the summer in Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze. The Eagles star has reportedly commanded a £68m release clause, though recent reports have suggested that the Gunners may look to negotiate down this price.
The departure of Zinchenko would not only allow for extra transfer funds, it would free up space on the wage bill taken up by a significant earner who was evidently surplus to requirements at the club last season. Having fallen behind the likes of Myles Lewis-Skelly and Riccardo Calafiori in the Gunners’ pecking order, a permanent sale for the 73-cap Ukraine international with just a year remaining on his contract appears to be a necessary move.
Other players who could yet depart include Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson and Leandro Trossard, the latter of whom also received strong interest from Fenerbahce earlier in this window, as the Gunners look to raise funds for a move for Eze which could complete an impressive summer of business.
