Arsenal left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko is reportedly wanted by Inter Milan in a deal that could help the Gunners pull off a blockbuster move for AC Milan's Theo Hernandez.
The Ukraine international has been relegated to a bit-part role under Mikel Arteta this season, making just 11 appearances in all competitions amid intense competition for left-back starts.
Zinchenko was already behind Takehiro Tomiyasu in the pecking order, and even though the Japan international has had his injury problems this season, Riccardo Calafiori's signing and Myles Lewis-Skelly's emergence have strengthened Arteta's left-hand side.
While the likes of Tomiyasu, Ben White and other standout names have been rewarded with new deals, Zinchenko has not yet been offered a contract extension by the Gunners, and his current terms are due to expire in just 18 months' time.
A sale in 2025 could therefore be on the cards if neither party decides to prolong the partnership, and according to The Sun, Serie A champions Inter could try to strike a deal for Zinchenko this month.
Arteta 'open-minded' to Zinchenko sale
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The report claims that Arteta is 'open-minded' to the idea of letting the 28-year-old leave the club this month, even though Kieran Tierney is also expected to depart either in January or the summer.
However, Zinchenko could be offered safe haven by Simone Inzaghi's side, who supposedly view him as the perfect addition to their title-defending team for the second half of the campaign.
With any funds raised from a January sale, Arsenal could allegedly press ahead with their pursuit of AC Milan's Hernandez, who like Zinchenko is also due to become a free agent in the summer of 2026.
Speculation over Hernandez's future increased when he briefly fell out of favour under ex-Milan boss Paulo Fonseca, but he has quickly been reintroduced into the starting XI under new head coach Sergio Conceicao.
The Frenchman provided a goal and assist in his side's recent 3-2 Supercoppa Italiana final win over Inter Milan, and talks over an extension are expected to be high on the Rossoneri's agenda for 2025.
Could a Zinchenko-Hernandez 'swap' really happen?
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Zinchenko joining Inter and Hernandez moving to Arsenal would not be an orthodox 'swap deal', but one that would make European headlines nonetheless, as one left-back leaves San Siro while the other touches down at the iconic venue.
The current Arsenal man can still play a fundamental role in Arteta's system with his line-breaking passes, and he remains an alternative option in midfield too, even if the Gunners boss has always been hesitant to use him there.
However, with just two starts to his name in the Premier League and none in the Champions League this season, Zinchenko appears to be surplus to requirements in North London, and an exit in 2025 is surely best for both parties.
In contrast, Arteta is said to be a 'huge fan' of AC Milan's Hernandez, who has also been linked with marquee moves to Manchester United and Real Madrid should he decide that his time at San Siro has run its course.
Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Tomiyasu, Jurrien Timber and Jakub Kiwior already provide plentiful cover on the left, though, so Arsenal would be better off using the Zinchenko funds to aid their search for a new game-changing attacker.
Ben Knapton
