Posted: 12:19, July 20, 2022 | Updated: 12:26, July 20, 2022
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has praised Oleksandr Zinchenko’s continued effort for his side as the Ukraine international closes in on a move to Arsenal. Zinchenko is set to join the Gunners, who, like City, are on a pre-season tour of the United States, with transfer formalities expected to be completed shortly. A fee of around £32million is reported to have been agreed for the versatile 25-year-old, who can operate at left-back and in midfield. Pep Guardiola says it was ‘nice’ to say goodbye to Oleksandr Zinchenko after six years Zinchenko trains with City squad ahead of imminent Arsenal move Ahead of City’s pre-season friendly with Club America in Texas, Guardiola revealed Zinchenko would leave with the club’s best wishes for the next chapter of his career as he reunites with former team-mate Gabriel Jesus in the north London. “On behalf of the club (I would like to express) gratitude for the effort, how they conduct themselves on and off the pitch. It was nice with Alex yesterday because we could say goodbye properly,” Guardiola told a press conference. “Unfortunately with Raheem (Sterling) and Gabriel we couldn’t because it was the summer, but yesterday we could say goodbye to him and (he can) go to Arsenal.” Zinchenko, who joined City in 2016 from Russian side Ufa, will be reunited with manager Mikel Arteta, who was Guardiola’s assistant at the Etihad Stadium. Guardiola said he couldn’t say goodbye to Raheem Sterling or Gabriel Jesus properly Zinchenko will be reunited with former Man City assistant manager Mikel Arteta at the Gunners The Ukrainian was with City at their base in Houston but has now departed to complete a medical and join the Gunners. Arsenal are in Florida, where they play Orlando City on Thursday before facing Chelsea at the Camping World Stadium on Saturday. Brazil forward Jesus joined from Manchester City in a £45million deal, and Arteta continues to look to further strengthen the club. Speaking ahead of Thursday’s friendly, the Gunners boss said: “We are in the market to keep improving the squad but there are so many parts involved and sometimes things don’t happen as quickly as you want them to.”
