Oleksandr Zinchenko’s recent injury woes means that the left-back missed an excellent opportunity to repeat the agent role carried out by Bukayo Saka to help the Gunners in the January transfer window. Arsenal are reportedly hot on the tail for Mykhaylo Mudryk and Zinchenko could have been the key piece to securing his signature.
Arsenal’s new signing would have been called up to the next set of international fixtures in September, which meant that he would have been in a camp alongside Mudryk, who has also been called up for the Ukrainian national team.
Saka used being called for duty with England to persuade Aaron Ramsdale to join the club ahead of last season. Zinchenko could have repeated this trick to persuade Mudryk to join the Gunners.
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Ramsdale joined Arsenal for a £30m fee in August last year, and in an interview with football magazine FourFourTwo, the goalkeeper was asked how Mikel Arteta sold the club to him ahead of his transfer last year.
"It wasn’t him, to be honest – it was Bukayo," he replied. "I heard rumours that Arsenal were interested in me when I was at the camp before the Euros, and Bukayo had mentioned that he and the boss had been talking about me."
Saka’s crucial role in persuading Ramsdale to join the club could have been repeated by Zinchenko to persuade Mudryk to make the move to north London. Especially considering the desperate need for Arsenal to sign a winger.
The Shakhtar Donetsk winger has had a phenomenal start to the season by scoring two goals and also assisting on one occasion in the opening two matches of the Champions League group stage.
According to Ukrainian news outlet football24tv, Arsenal held talks with Mudryk’s agents and were interested in signing the player in the summer. The report went on to say that Shakhtar Donetsk are asking for €35million (£30million).
Amid such interest in Mudryk, it appears as though the youngster is very open to a move to Arsenal, who seemingly need more depth in their wide areas. Speaking to CBS Sports, he said: "I think every guy dreams about the Premier League. It's hard to say [who his preferred move is] but Arsenal is a very good team, very good coach, I like the way they play."
When asked if he would make a move to the Emirates Stadium he said: "From my side, I can't say no [to Arsenal]. But the transfer is not only my decision."
The Gunners seem to currently be in a strong position to sign the promising winger. And to maintain this position if rival clubs begin to register interest, Zinchenko could have a played a key role similar to Saka last season. Especially considering that this is the last upcoming international break until the January transfer window opens.
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