How long Arsenal planned a move for Oleksandr Zinchenko before transfer swoop

Arsenal’s newest addition Oleksandr Zinchenko has been on the Gunners’ radar for a very long time, switch director Edu Gaspar has revealed in a current interview.

The 25-year-old Ukranian full-back, who also can play in central midfield, joined from Manchester Metropolis in a deal price £30m plus an additional £2m in performance-related add-ons, signing a long run contract in north London.

In doing so, he grew to become Mikel Arteta’s fifth summer season signing, becoming a member of Gabriel Jesus, Matt Turner, Fabio Vieira and Marquinhos in making a transfer to the capital this summer season.

Official, lastly confirmed. Oleksandr Zinchenko joins Arsenal on a 4 yr deal, membership assertion confirms. Price round £30m fastened plus £2m add ons. ⚪️??? #AFC

Arteta: “We’re so completely happy, Alex is a top quality participant who will give us choices and flexibility”. pic.twitter.com/TqjgDeB89x

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 22, 2022

And, whereas it appeared as if the Gunners solely turned to creating a transfer for Zinchenko as soon as it grew to become clear that Manchester United had received the race for Lisandro Martinez, Edu has in actual fact revealed that they’d been plotting the switch for much longer.

Switch lengthy within the works

Chatting with Sky Sports activities, the Brazilian technical director defined that the deal had in actual fact been deliberate for six months, with the participant singled out as a result of his potential on the pitch and his character off it.

“We’re so excited to have Zinchenko with us right here as a result of he’s a participant that we actually focused,” Edu instructed Sky Sports activities. “It’s a participant that we actually imagine has the traits and the qualities which might be going to extend our degree within the squad for certain.

“[The Zinchenko transfer] was deliberate like six months in the past, to feed that place in one of the simplest ways potential in the way in which which Mikel actually needs to play.

“Mikel after all is aware of him greater than anybody as a result of they labored collectively [at Manchester City] however all the data across the participant is high. Not solely about his qualities as a footballer however as an individual as nicely, which for us is so vital to have a participant like him within the squad.”

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