Borussia Dortmund have reportedly made Arsenal's Oleksandr Zinchenko their top target at left-back, ahead of a potential move before the transfer deadline this month.
Zinchenko looks likely to leave the Emirates this month, after falling down the pecking order following the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori over the summer.
Jurrien Timber's return from injury over the summer, and the breakout of young Myles Lewis-Skelly has added further competition in the Arsenal defence, with opportunities for Zinchenko becoming rarer by the week.
The Ukrainian international started in the 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday, but that was just a second start across all competitions since October.
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Zinchenko edges closer to Arsenal exit
After arriving from Manchester City for £30m in 2022, Zinchenko was a regular at left-back for the Gunners in his first two years at the club, but his influence has dwindled gradually.
Losing his place at left-back to an 18-year-old winger is set to be the final straw, with the Telegraph reporting that a move to Dortmund is a very real possibility this month.
Dortmund are in the market for a left-sided defender, and after missing out on Renato Veiga, who is set to join Juventus on loan from Chelsea, they have turned their attention to Zinchenko.
Ramy Bensebaini is the first-choice at left-back for Dortmund, but his understudy Yan Couto has not made the impact BVB envisaged, when they loaned him in from Man City over the summer.
Dortmund in general are in a mess at the moment, after sacking manager Nuri Sahin following the 2-1 defeat at Bologna in the Champions League on Tuesday.
With no manager yet in place at the Westfalenstadion, the club still appear keen to strengthen the squad for the second half of the season, with BVB sitting in the bottom half of the Bundesliga.
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Will Arsenal need to enter the market if Zinchenko departs?
Manager Mikel Arteta should have enough depth in his squad to cover if Zinchenko does leave, hence why the club are not set to stand in the player's way if he wishes to leave.
Calafiori is back following a brief absence, and Lewis-Skelly's recent injury is not believed to be serious.
Jakub Kiwior is also still at the club, despite rumours he could leave and return to Italian football, and the Polish international has proven his capabilities of playing at left-back.
Even if Lewis-Skelly remains out for the trip to Wolves on Saturday though, it is unlikely Zinchenko will start again, and that could push him closer to the exit.
Andrew Delaney
