All has now become clear why West Ham United have lost out to Arsenal for a key David Moyes target ahead of imminent signing.
West Ham and Arsenal are both looking for new left-backs and central midfielders.
Hammers boss Moyes has been wanting to bring Man City’s Zinchenko to the London Stadium for some time according to the likes of The Mirror.
Particularly given he can play both roles.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had also been linked with the Ukraine star – who is believed to want to play predominantly in central midfield at his next club.
West Ham and Arsenal were both said to be willing to accommodate that wish. Although both the Hammers and Gunners have been linked with giant midfielder Amadou Onana since.
West Ham manager Moyes was given hope of beating his protégé Arteta to Zinchenko last month when a report from The Athletic claimed the 25-year-old was far from a priority for Arsenal.
But it has been widely reported that Arsenal look set to deal West Ham a Hammer blow with the signing of Zinchenko.
Sky Sports recently claimed Arsenal are proactively working on deal for the Man City defender and are expected to make a bid.
All now becomes clear why West Ham have lost out to Arsenal for the key Moyes target ahead of the imminent signing.
Because reports overnight claims Arsenal are paying a whopping £35m to Man City for Zinchenko (Daily Mail).
It has taken West Ham 18 months and three transfer windows to stump up that kind of cash for a striker.
So there is no chance they were going to fork out such a figure on a left-back – even if he is a versatile one.
You have to question whether Zinchenko is really worth that kind of money.
The Ukraine international has often been highlighted as the weak link in the Man City side. But such is the strength of that team that is no real criticism.
He would have been an ideal signing for West Ham given the fact he can operate at left-back, on the wing and in central midfield.
But the figure Arsenal were willing to go to was clearly too much for West Ham given Moyes’ need to keep much of his budget to sort his striker situation.
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