Mikel Arteta aims to complete Wenger scouting mission with Arsenal transfer

Arsenal are keen to sign Manchester City star Oleksandr Zinchenko this summer - potentially putting to an end an eight-year pursuit.

The north London club are keen on a move for the Manchester City utility man, with boss Mikel Arteta seeing Zinchenko as an excellent addition to the Gunners' midfield having worked alongside the Ukrainian during his time as part of Pep Guardiola's coaching set-up at the Etihad Stadium.

The Ukraine international is the second Man City player that Arsenal have been linked with this summer having also sounded out Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus too. The City No.9 is believed to be Arteta's top pick as he looks for a new focal point to the Gunners' attack.

Whilst the pair are both on Arsenal's radar, Zinchenko could have actually moved to the Emirates long before now. His agent claimed back in 2016 that former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was interested in making a move for his services having been impressed with the young Ukrainian's performances for Shakhtar Donetsk's youth side.

Speaking to Russian newspaper Sovetskiy Sport six years ago, Zinchenko's agent Sandor Varga said: "Two years ago, Arsene Wenger phoned me. Zinchenko was 17 then and Shakhtar played Arsenal in the UEFA Youth League. Arsene watched the match and immediately called me, saying: 'I need Zinchenko'.

"[Arsenal] made an offer but there were some problems and then Zinchenko was discovered by a lot of people. I do not know how to it now applies to Guardiola, but Wenger was confident in this football player."

In the end, Zinchenko eventually departed Shakhtar for Russian club Ufa before sealing a bargain move to Manchester in the summer of 2016. The now 25-year-old has gone on to make 128 appearances for the club, winning four Premier League titles, four League Cups and the FA Cup.

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He had the chance to leave the Etihad on a number of occasions in the past with Wolverhampton Wanderers having agreed a fee for his services in 2018 but he elected to remain at the Etihad Stadium. He has two years remaining on his Man City contract ahead of a potential swoop by Arsenal.

Zinchenko wants to play more regularly and could potentially be set to fall further down the pecking order with the current Premier League champions. Pep Guardiola is thought to be keen on bolstering his left-back options with Brighton and Hove Albion's Marc Cucurella having been linked following an impressive debut season in the Premier League.

Elsewhere, the Gunners remain keen to bolster a number of other positions within their squad. Arteta is eyeing a move for a striker this summer with Alexandre Lacazette set to depart - albeit Eddie Nketiah's potential new deal having slightly alleviated the immediate need for a new forward.

A midfielder is also thought to be high up on their summer shopping list, with Arteta understood to be prioritising a move for Leicester 's Youri Tielemans, as well as Zinchenko