- Zinchenko has fallen down the pecking order in the Arsenal squad this season
- He could be set to move to the Bundesliga three years after signing for Gunners
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Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko is set to leave the club this month with a German side top of the list as a possible destination, according to a report.
Zinchenko joined the Gunners in 2022 from Manchester City, and was a major boost to Mikel Arteta’s plans at the time, but has found himself falling down the packing order in recent times.
The Ukrainian is now essentially the third-choice left back at the club, with Myles Lewis-Skelly jumping ahead of the 28-year-old in terms of selection in the position and Riccardo Calafiori also an option.
Arsenal are looking to add to their squad this month, particularly in attacking areas, but could also cut other players, and it has been reported that Zinchenko could be on his way out.
According to The Telegraph, Borussia Dortmund are the frontrunners to sign him, but Arsenal are keen to see the results of a scan on the knee of Lewis-Skelly after the 18-year-old hobbled off during the weekend draw with Aston Villa.
Dortmund remain in the market having missed out on Chelsea’s Renato Veiga, and could head to London to solve their issue.
Oleksandr Zinchenko is set to leave Arsenal during the current transfer window, say reports
The defender has fallen behind Myles Lewis-Skelly in the pecking order, with Riccardo Calafiori also an option
Dortmund have made Zinchenko their main target, but are also monitoring Ben Chilwell
Chelsea are somewhat of a third party in the saga, with Veiga instead heading to Juventus on loan and Dortmund also reportedly monitoring the Blues’ Ben Chilwell.
Dortmund made an offer for Veiga, but it is believed that a promise the 21-year-old can fill in at centre back – his preferred role – rather than at left back persuaded him to move to Italy.
Chilwell has been pretty much exiled from the Blues team this season under Enzo Maresca, with the former England international starved of game time and searching for a move away.
Though Chilwell is of interest to Dortmund, Zinchenko is ahead of him on the German club’s list of targets.
Since joining Arsenal, Zinchenko has made 81 appearances and is a popular member of the dressing room, but has enjoyed limited game time, despite starting in the Champions League against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday night.
Dortmund, meanwhile, sacked manager Nuri Sahin this week and have been linked with appointing Erik ten Hag as his replacement.
They are down in 10th in the Bundesliga table, and set to have to play a play-off round after the Champions League league stage.
Another left back, Kieran Tierney, is close to securing a return to former side Celtic.
