DO Exclusive: Marseille explores Zinchenko deals, the problem is not the transfer fee, but the salary

Hupu, August 29, TheAthleticUK ace reporter David Ornstein, exclusive report, Marseille is negotiating the signing of Arsenal's Oreksand Zinchenko.

The current interest of this Ligue 1 club is in potential permanent transfers - but Zinchenko's salary is a major issue and it must be overcome if it is to advance it.

However, negotiations continue and Marseille is discussing whether it can be completed before the transfer deadline on Monday.

The 28-year-old has entered his last 12 months in his contract with Arsenal, and in the 2024-25 season, he has made only 23 appearances in various competitions.

Zinchenko was Mikel Arteta's preferred starting left-back in his first two seasons, playing 33 and 35 respectively, helping Arsenal almost win his first Premier League title since 2004.

Last season, youth training player Miles = Lewis Skeley was Arteta's main starting left-back, while Jurien Timber, Yakub Kiville and Ricardo Calafiori were all choices in this position.

Returning Celtics full-back Kieran Tierney and Fu'an Jianyang both left Arsenal as free agents this summer, while Nuno Tavarez officially transferred to Lazio.

Marseille signed former Arsenal striker Pierre Emerick Aubameyang this summer under head coach Roberto Dezelby, who joined in a free transfer after leaving Saudi professional league club Cadia.