Tottenham-mad Darren Ambrose has claimed that Arsenal could be about to pull off ‘one of the signings of the summer’ if they secure the transfer of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City, as he told talkSPORT.
The former Crystal Palace midfielder, who is a Spurs fan, added that Zinchenko ‘improves Arsenal’s midfield’ and at £30 million, it’s a ‘good price’ for a player he thinks goes straight into Mikel Arteta’s first-team.
Arsenal should have Manchester City’s number on speed dial by now because the London club have already added Gabriel Jesus to their books this summer.
And now Arteta wants to raid his former club again, but this time, he wants to add the versatile qualities of Zinchenko to his squad.
If the Ukraine international signs on the dotted line for the Gunners, then Ambrose thinks he will be a top purchase for those across north London, even though he ‘doesn’t like to say that being a Spurs supporter’.
“I think if this goes as well as they are hoping, then I think this could be one of the signings of the summer,” said Ambrose.
“I don’t like to say that being a Spurs supporter. But £30 million for Zinchenko, as you rightly said, Tierney has his issues with injury, so he is more than an adequate cover.
“But I think he will be going into midfield. I think he improves Arsenal’s midfield. When you watch him for Ukraine, he plays in midfield.
“He gives you that bite. He’s clearly a leader and a good character. Mikel Arteta knows him from Manchester City, so they have a good relationship – £30 million in today’s climate is a good price for a player who I think will go straight into Arsenal’s first-team.”
TECHNICALLY GIFTED ZINCHENKO
From midfield to fullback, there are many areas of the pitch that Zinchenko can cover and he’s a signing that would elevate Arsenal.
From a purely technical standpoint, the likes of Martin Odegaard, new signing Jesus and Bukayo Saka would be top of Arsenal’s list regarding that quality.
But if Zinchenko’s signature is signed, sealed and delivered by the club, then he could argue he is one of the best technical players at the Champions League-chasing side.
Either way, the 2022 summer transfer window is heading in the right direction for Arteta ahead of another pressure-cooker of a season.
The former midfielder has taken some hits during his time in the Emirates dugout, but it’s fair to say that if he takes a few more hefty shots next season, then he will be counted out this time.
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