Arsenal in Serious Talks with Atletico Madrid Over Zinchenko Transfer

LONDON, England — Arsenal and Atletico Madrid are engaged in serious negotiations over the potential transfer of Oleksandr Zinchenko, with the Spanish club open to either a permanent deal or a loan with an obligation to buy. The 28-year-old left-back, valued at €20 million plus add-ons, is reportedly keen to leave Arsenal as the winter transfer window nears its close.

According to Sky Germany‘s Florian Plettenberg, Atletico Madrid has stepped into the void left by Borussia Dortmund, whose interest in Zinchenko has cooled due to financial constraints. “Serious talks are underway, with Atletico open to either a permanent deal or a loan with an obligation to buy,” Plettenberg stated on X. “Dortmund remain in the race but are currently less active, as the package is too expensive.”

Zinchenko’s potential departure comes as Arsenal also looks to offload fellow left-back Kieran Tierney, who is reportedly close to rejoining Celtic on loan with a view to a permanent move in the summer. The Gunners are under pressure to strengthen their squad, particularly in the striker position, as they aim to challenge Liverpool for the Premier League title.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has publicly acknowledged the need for reinforcements following injuries to key players like Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka. “We lack goals, we lack people, we lack options in the frontline,” Arteta said ahead of Arsenal’s recent clash with Wolves. “Ideally, we need some help. We were short already, and now we are even shorter.”

Despite the urgency, Arteta emphasized that the club will only pursue players who can make an immediate impact. “[It has to be] someone that makes us better and has an impact in the team,” he added. Arsenal has been linked with several high-profile strikers, including Dusan Vlahovic, Victor Osimhen, and Alexander Isak, but no deals have been finalized yet.

As the transfer window enters its final stages, Arsenal faces a race against time to address its squad deficiencies while navigating the complexities of outgoing deals for Zinchenko and Tierney. The outcome of these negotiations could significantly impact the club’s ambitions for the remainder of the season.