Whilst we wait for the ‘sales’ to begin at London Stadium, without which the Hammers’ board have decided no ‘incomings’ can take place, the reports continue linking the Irons with -ahem-‘well priced’ options for the summer as Potter and Macaulay try to get every last ounce of value from the transfer market.
€15 million – about £13 million – would seem to be a ‘very reasonable’ price sought by Arsenal for their left back Oleksander Zinchenko, likely on the move this summer and attracting interest from AC Milan who are reportedly baulking at the price.
Oleksander Zinchenko could be another Wan-Bissaka style success story at West Ham
Enter the the Hammers, for whom no such price issue would surely arise as in effect Graham Potter would be signing a proven utility man who can occupy two slots. £13 million is even less than the price for which Hammers stole Wan-Bissaka from Old Trafford.
Reported in many outlets today including sportwitness.co.uk the 28 year-old Ukrainian has a contract expiring in 2026 at the Emirates: Hence Arsenals’ motivation to sell for some kind of fee this summer.
At home as a central midfielder or left sided full back, Zinchenko would represent an excellent Cresswell/Emerson upgrade and at 28 there’s still some miles in the legs. Between him and Ollie Scarles the left side of defence would be pretty well covered. Reportedly, Zinchenko is well settled in London so West Ham might be – for a change – well placed to attract the ex Arsenal and Manchester City player.
On the face of it, Zinchenko could become a left-sided Wan-Bissaka-type Hammers success story at the same bargain fee.