Zinchenko? AC Milan to test Arsenal's waters with a low offer but player wants Sheva's club

Exclusive by Alessandro Schiavone

That AC Milan are interested in a swoop for Arsenal outcast Oleksandr Zinchenko is no mystery.

But the Rossoneri will not be taken for a ride and pay the €15m (£12.7m) the Gunners have slapped on the Ukrainian left-back's head.

New sporting director Igli Tare is understood to be willing to test Arsenal's waters with an offer of £5m plus £3m in add-ons in the coming weeks.

The reasoning behind this moderate bid can be explained by Zinchenko's lack of regular football in the last two seasons and the question marks over his fitness and the impact he would have in Serie A.

An offer, which will be way short of their valuation for an injury-stricken player who fell off the Emirates pecking order in the last 18 months and has little to no resale value given that he turns 29 this year.

Zinchenko can agree terms with overseas clubs in January 2026 and leave for free in 12 months.

Following Myles Lewis-Skelly's monstrous emergence, Zinchenko's time in north London has been and gone.

In the event of rotation, injury or suspension Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori is the new England international's back-up. While versatile Dutchman Jurrien Timber can feature anywhere in defence.

But his potential arrival at San Siro is also subject to Theo Hernandez leaving.

Negotiations for a return to Atletico Madrid are at an impasse while the player still has strong reservations about Al-Hilal.

But a source close to Zinchenko speaking on the condition of anonimity and whom we can't name to protect relationships has told us that the player is champing at the bit to represent countryman Andriy Shevchenko's Rossoneri.

More to follow.