German transfer expert Florian Plettenberg reports that Borussia Dortmund have held talks with Oleksandr Zinchenko regarding a potential January loan move, which could include an obligation to buy at the end of the season.
The Ukraine international, under contract with Arsenal until 2026, has fallen out of favour over the past 18 months, partly due to recurring calf injuries. Zinchenko joined the Gunners from Manchester City in the summer of 2022 for €35 million and quickly replaced Kieran Tierney at left-back.
His midfield background added creativity and composure to Arsenal’s defence, contributing to an unexpected title challenge and a second successive push last season.
Despite playing 27 league games in each of his first two seasons, Zinchenko’s appearances have been limited since February. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jakub Kiwior covered his absence last season, while new signing Riccardo Calafiori and academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly have been preferred this term.
Arsenal’s willingness to negotiate a January deal, despite defensive injury concerns, indicates that Zinchenko is surplus to requirements.
The potential transfer fee could help fund reinforcements in attack, with Gabriel Jesus sidelined for the season and Bukayo Saka recovering from hamstring surgery.
€20m?!
Can’t wait for this to end at £7m
OK
Whatever is the situation with Tomiyasu? Can’t remember last I saw him play.
He lives in Japan now.
😂😂
🙂
LOL. Thought the same thing when I started reading this article.
I’m not sure we should be allowing anyone to leave currently.
We have 101 injury prone leftbacks so letting one go shouldn’t be an issue
I have a feeling he’ll be really good at Dortmund.
Me too – don’t know why but it seems like a great fit… I’ve seen we have an interest in Jamie Gittens from Dortmund, so maybe we could even work that into the deal and Zinny can do us one final solid
I think I can just picture him in that Dortmund kit and it works!
I think the yellow of Ukraine that you have seen him in has something to do with it.
He also suits the yellow and black away kit we had last season, way more so than the red home kit
When he’s fit
Would be sad to see him go, but the writing has been on the wall for a while.
I know people have questioned the Califiori signing as it appears there were other priorities – but I think we would have sold zinchenko and Kiwior last summer if the right offers arrived (and had Tomi not got injured in the summer) – therefore I suspect Califiori was signed as a replacement for those two (and if not then I think we sell those two imminently and it has given Califiori a season to bed in)
He should’ve been given a crack at left 8
Bingo.
His calves only last three games then he is out for 4 to 6 weeks. He doesn’t play for a reason.
Yup.
Does this have any impact on KT moving??
I’d imagine so – Tierney would have been going to Celtic on a free and so if there’s a chance to recoup any transfer fee for Zinchenko we should absolutely prioritise that and keep Tierney as backup.
100%
Also the reality is that Zinchenko is a better first choice than Tierney, in terms of how Arteta wants to play football. But Tierney is better suited to a back up role both in terms of his crossing ability and defensive ability to tie up games, in the event we’ve scored enough to have a lead when he comes on.
Not a big fan of Zinchenko because of his defensive weaknesses but Arteta missed a chance for us to at least see him in the centre of the park since the start of the season given his ability on the ball. This is as we have struggled for fluidity through the middle, think back to Merino and Rice in middle against Everton. Maybe Arteta gives him one run out before he leaves to give us a taste of what we’ll be missing.
I like Zinchenko and I think his defensive weaknesses have been somewhat misunderstood. But his value in Arteta’s scheme is precisely because he is a fullback who inverts–moves inside towards the centre of the pitch and provides an overload. He is the *extra* player who insures that he or Ødegaard have space to pick a pass. There is no reason to use him as a midfielder unless several of Ødegaard, Rice, Thomas, Merino, Jorginho, and Nwaneri are unavailable.
When he plays for Ukraine in midfield he looks a much better version of himself than he does when he plays for us at LB. I’d have played him left 8 ahead of Merino…
This move should have taken place last season.
Buy high sell low