Arsenal target Oleksandr Zinchenko named in Manchester City’s pre-season squad

Oleksandr Zinchenko has been named in Manchester City’s squad for their pre-season tour of the United States amid the rumours surrounding interest from Arsenal.

The 25-year-old is allegedly close to completing a £35m move to the Emirates Stadium following positive talks held between both clubs.

It is thought that Gunners boss and former City assistant coach Mikel Arteta regards Zinchenko as their primary left-back target, after missing out on Manchester United-bound Lisandro Martinez and Brentford’s Aaron Hickey.

Nevertheless, Pep Guardiola has included the versatile Ukraine international in his travelling squad to the States, with the Premier League champions scheduled to face Club America and Bayern Munich.

Summer signings Erling Braut Haaland, Kalvin Phillips and Stefan Ortega have also been included, along with January recruit Julian Alvarez.

Haaland officially joined the Citizens on July 1 after they activated the £51m release clause in his Borussia Dortmund contract, while Phillips and Ortega have joined from Leeds United and Arminia Bielefeld respectively, the former of whom arriving for an initial fee of £42m.

While City’s four new signings are notable additions for Guardiola’s squad, there are also four standout absentees in the form of Phil Foden, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte and Ilkay Gundogan.

All four players will not be joining the rest of the first-team squad in the USA and the Citizens are yet to provide an explanation for their absence.

A previous report has claimed that Foden, Stones and Gundogan will instead join up with City’s Under-23s squad and travel to a European destination to continue their preparations for the new season, with Laporte now seemingly set to do the same.

There is also no place for backup goalkeeper Zack Steffen, who is allegedly on his way to Championship outfit Middlesbrough on a season-long loan deal.