Arsenal are open to letting Oleksandr Zinchenko join Borussia Dortmund on loan - but want a guaranteed fee in the summer.
Zinchenko, 28, is understood to be keen to leave the Emirates, with talks between the player's representatives and the German giants Dortmund ongoing. The Ukrainian defender, who joined Arsenal in a £35million move from Manchester City in 2022, has only made 11 appearances this season, with a persistent calf injury limiting his game-time under Mikel Arteta.
Having been an unused substitute during Sunday's bitter penalty shootout defeat at home to Manchester United in the FA Cup, Zinchenko's time at Arsenal appears to be up. Sky Germany report that Dortmund are keen to sign the former City left-back, with the Gunners open to a loan deal which includes an obligation to buy when the summer transfer window opens.
That fee would be set at around €20million (£17m) with Zinchenko's contract at Arsenal running until June 2026. Mirror Football reported in July that fellow Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich were interested in signing Zinchenko, who played alongside Bayern boss Vincent Kompany for City.
Even when fit, Zinchenko hasn't regained his place as Arsenal's first-choice left-back. Jurrien Timber, new £42m signing Riccardo Calafiori and Jakub Kiwior have shared the minutes, with youngster Miles Lewis-Skelly recently breaking into the starting line-up and Kieran Tierney now another option following his return from injury.
Inter Milan have also been linked with signing Zinchenko, with manager Simone Inzaghi targeting a new wing-back this month. The 28-year-old was tipped for more of a midfield role this season given Arsenal's plethora of options at left-back, although Arteta has exclusively used him in defence since he signed him.
"Obviously he has played in midfield," the Gunners boss said in pre-season. "But the main focus for him right now is playing as a full-back and the options and solutions he provides in that part. He knows the quality that he has, he knows the things he needs to improve. He's another one that is really at it."
Should he join Dortmund, Zinchenko would attempt to help Nuri Sahin's side recover from a poor start to the season. BVB are currently eighth in the Bundesliga table, although their Champions League campaign has been a different story. Dortmund are just a point and a place outside of the top eight with two games to go before the knockout play-offs which they hope to avoid.