Fulham are plotting a move for out-of-favour Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko, according to reports.
The Ukraine international has fallen down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta and his situation has put potential suitors on red alert.
One of the club’s interested is Fulham who could land the four time Premier League champion for a cut-price £10million fee according to The Sun.
But they may face competition from abroad with AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax all keen on acquiring the 28-year-old whose contract is set to expire next summer.
A source told SunSport: “Zinchenko is a major target for Fulham. He looks almost certain to leave the Emirates this summer and there will be no shortage of takers.”
Fulham could be buoyed by Zinchenko’s preference to remain in London where he and his family are settled.
But a lack of game time last season saw frustrations creep in for the ex-Manchester City ace having made 23 appearances across all competitions with most of them coming from the bench.
Serie A giants Inter an Juventus have both been credited with an interest in the 74-time Ukraine international while a move to Inter failed to materilaise in January.
Zinchenko’s versatility will be of interest to Fulham boss Marco Silva who will look to utilise the star in either defence or midfield.
And Zinchenko will still feel he has plenty to offer at the highest level after a difficult campaign at the Emirates.
The Ukrainian completed a £32million switch to north London in 2022 and played a key role in club’s title push against former employers Man City.
However, his influence began to wain and eventually lost his start spot to Dutchman Jurrien Timber and later Takehiro Tomiyasu.
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He has since slipped further down the ladder thanks to the emergence of academy star Myles Lewis-Skelly, while summer signing Riccardo Calafiori was also deployed at left-back.
In March, Zinchenko said he was unsure as to what the future holed for him at the Emirates amid reduced playing time.
“I don’t know yet to be honest,” he said at the time.
“If I knew, I could tell you. It’s still a long way to go until the end of the season.
“I think we are at the stage and the most interesting period of the season, where every single game is a final and you never know what is going to happen in football.”
He continued: “Honestly, I am so happy to be part of this amazing club and team. It is really a joy to be close to these guys.
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“Whenever the team and head coach needs me, I am there. In any position they need me, I am there to help.
“Even if I will be in the stands, I will try to make an impact as much as I can, to push the others, just to hug someone, whatever! It is really a joy to be here.”
The Gunners may look to cash in on the star in the hope of reinvesting funds back into the squad as Arteta plots the best way to splash his summer transfer kitty.
Arsenal are set to prioritise a striker this summer with both Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres both on the club’s radar.
Arteta hopes to finalise the transfer of Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi with the future of Thomas Partey still unclear.
Arsenal remain light in central areas with the recent departure of Jorginho and signing Zubimendi from under the noses of Real Madrid could prove to be a huge boost ahead of the new season.
