Arsenal in ‘SERIOUS TALKS’ to complete first major January transfer

Arsenal’s January transfer window has been dominated by rumours of a striker signing but no actual action, but now Mikel Arteta’s side are poised to complete their first definite deal.

While the Gunners might be hoping for the arrival of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, the first piece of concrete business that Arsenal are poised to do is offload fringe star Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Once a mainstay of Arteta’s plans, he has fallen out of favour lately as tactical tweaks in the way that Arsenal play have seen his game time reduced to virtually nothing. Moreover, with Kieran Tierney now back from loan and fit again, the Emirates club have assured they have cover at left-back until the summer when the Scotland international is poised to return back to Celtic as a free agent.

READ MORE: Arsenal, Chelsea or Man Utd? Benjamin Sesko has already picked his next club

In the meantime, the sale of Zinchenko is set to raise the club a fortune, with Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone targeting a move for the Ukraine international star, according to Florian Plettenberg. It is claimed that “serious talks” are underway in the deal.

Zinchenko’s exact manner of departure is not yet clear. Plettenberg reports that the 28-year-old could be loaned out or sold. A transfer valuation of €20 million has been placed on his head.

Borussia Dortmund are waiting in the wings should the deal break down, but the Bundesliga side feel that the package for the player is too expensive. Furthermore, they would prefer someone who can also deputise at centre-back.

Arsenal’s asking price for Zinchenko, meanwhile, appears to be more than fair. His Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) stands at €26.9m.

Zinchenko deal to fund a striker?

Any money raised by the sale of Zinchenko could be pumped straight back into Arteta’s transfer kitty.

The Arsenal boss revealed on Friday that the club are actively chasing a centre-forward.

Speaking to the media, he said: “We lost two very important players in Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus. We lack goals, we lack people and we lack options. It’s clear.

“If we can get the right player, that’s why we are actively looking at it.

“We ARE working on it, yes.”

Sesko is Arsenal’s top choice for the position, but RB Leipzig have said they are not planning to sell him, despite the player wanting to move to the Emirates.