Arsenal are ready to let Oleksandr Zinchenko leave this month(Image: Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal braced for Oleksandr Zinchenko exit as Mikel Arteta plots transfer raid

Oleksandr Zinchenko has plummeted down the pecking order at Arsenal this season, with the left-back now heading for a departure from the Gunners in the January transfer window

by · The Mirror

Oleksandr Zinchenko's future at Arsenal is in serious doubt with the Gunners bracing themselves to receive a bid for the Ukrainian this month.

Zinchenko was the star summer signing in 2022 and played a key role in immediately turning Mikel Arteta's side into title contenders. But the return to fitness of Jurrien Timber and the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori has seen the 28-year-old plummet down the pecking order.

He has made just 11 appearances in all competitions this season, only three of which have been starts. Even when starting, Zinchenko is yet to last the full 90 minutes, with Timber and Calfiori firmly ahead of him in Arteta's plans.

The left-back has entered the final 18 months of his contract and this transfer window could well be the best time to get a good fee for him. Given that situation, Zinchenko is heading for an exit.

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According to The Sun, Inter Milan are preparing to submit a bid for the Ukrainian this month. The Serie A side believe he can 'massively boost' their domestic campaign, with Simone Inzaghi's side sitting four points behind leaders Napoli with two games in hand.

It is said that Arteta is 'open-minded' about letting Zinchenko depart this month. That is despite the Gunners having opened talks with Celtic over a deal that would see Kieran Tierney return to Scotland.

It appears Arteta has already found a replacement for Zinchenko, with Arsenal said to be monitoring AC Milan star Theo Hernandez. The France international struggled under the now-sacked Paulo Fonseca, though did play an instrumental role in the Supercoppa Italiana win over Inter.

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Theo Hernandez is being lined up as a replacement by the Gunners( Image: Getty Images)

But his contract is also heading into its final 18 months with no progress on talks over a new deal. Arteta is believed to be a huge fan of the Milan star, with the Italian giants potentially open to a summer sale.

The Arsenal boss has played down the chances of any significant signings being made this month. Instead he has insisted his full focus is on working with the players currently at the Emirates Stadium.

"The focus is our players. Whatever is in the market, we’re very alert, but the priority is working with the players that we have at the moment and tomorrow night, which is a big night for us. It’s not a yes, it’s not a no," he said before the defeat to Newcastle.

"We set very high standards and we really want to only have players here that are coming from our academy or we have to sign players to really elevate and impact the team, otherwise just bringing in bodies doesn’t help us.

"It’s a good learning process, not only tactically but also preparation and training with very few players. Today we had seven or eight players with us just to fill the squad which isn’t normal but it’s a weird way to learn, but I’ll take it."

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