Arteta open to selling Arsenal ace with 79 appearances in January, eyes UCL winner as replacement – report | OneFootball

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is open to letting Oleksandr Zinchenko leave before the end of the January transfer window as Inter Milan prepare a bid for the Ukraine international, according to the Sun.

The 28-year-old, who has played 79 games for the Gunners since he joined them from Manchester City in 2022, is behind both Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori in the pecking order, while 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly has also started more Premier League games than him this term.

Inter want Zinchenko and Arteta could go after AC Milan left-back Theo Hernandez should he leave.

The France international could be sold in the summer, and the Arsenal boss is said to be a huge fan.

The 27-year-old won the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2017-18, and has made the Serie A Team of the Year four times.

His return of 32 goals in 235 appearances for the Italian top-flight club makes him their highest-ever scoring defender, and Arsenal could do with such a full-back.

Hernandez has also weighed in with 42 assists and can play as a centre-back if called upon.

The defence is not a position the North London club are in a rush to strengthen given the plethora of options available to Arteta, but selling Zinchenko to Inter could see them change their mind and go after the Milan star.

A major sale this winter could also help boost their chances of splashing the cash on a number 9 if the opportunity presents itself.

Their limitedness in front of goal was exposed again last night in their 2-0 loss to Newcastle United in the first-leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and they could do with a quality striker during the second half of the season to boost their title chances.

Arsenal have been linked with Magpies hitman Alexander Isak, but it could take around £150 million to convince the Toons to part with the Sweden international, and selling Zinchenko and the wantaway Jakub Kiwior could help make room and provide funds for a mega-signing.