Arsenal target left-back despite having SIX on the books

Stuart Telford

• 16 Apr 2024 08:30 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal are reportedly looking for a new left-back despite having six on the books, with Mikel Arteta harbouring doubts about Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior.

That's according to The Athletic, who report that the club are dragging their feet on contract talks with Zinchenko, who joined from Manchester City for £30 million last year amid significant excitement.

"Zinchenko has two years remaining on his Arsenal contract - typically the moment when clubs decide whether to renew or sell," reports James McNicholas.

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"At a time when Arsenal have negotiated new deals for Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Martin Odegaard with impressive efficiency, they have not yet entered significant talks with Zinchenko…"

Left back in the changing room?

Zinchenko had lost his place to Jakub Kiwior in recent weeks, but the Pole was slammed by club legend Ian Wright recently after "getting cooked" by Leroy Sane in the Gunners' 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

"Arsenal's to-do list for the summer includes the acquisition of a new left-back," the reports continues. "That is in itself quite remarkable given that the club already have six potential left-backs on the books."

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Of those listed - Zinchenko, Kiwior, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Jurrien Timber, Kieran Tierney and Nuno Tavares - only three are natural left-backs, and two of those, Tierney and Tavares, are on loan at Real Sociedad and Nottingham Forest respectively. Tierney recently admitted he no longer speaks to Arteta.

As revealed exclusively by FootballTransfers collaborator Steve Kay, Alex Grimaldo has risen to the top of Arsenal's shopping list in the position, with Liverpool also interested.

The Spaniard contributed nine goals and 13 assists to Bayer Leverkusen's recent Bundesliga title win but, like Zinchenko, can be accused of only having one direction. At least in his case, it isn't the Arsenal exit, though.