Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Antoine Griezmann, Oleksandr Zinchenko

Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann has put Arsenal on high alert after confessing he'd like to try his hand in the Premier League if he left La Liga. Meanwhile, the agent of Oleksandr Zinchenko has said the Gunners were desperate to land his client this summer.

Arsenal are one of the European outfits linked with France international Griezmann, and he told Telefoot (h/t TalkSport) he'd consider a move to England in the event he leaves the Vicente Calderon:

"

I cannot go to Real [Madrid], there is a pact between the two clubs that prohibits a transfer. At Barca, there is no pact but their front three are indispensable. PSG? It is an interesting possibility but Ligue 1 does not interest me for now.

I would prefer to stay in La Liga or go to the Premier League.

"

The 25-year-old is one of the most valued commodities in La Liga right now and has boosted his reputation further after netting nine times in 17 appearances this season, six of which have come in the Spanish top flight.

However, Griezmann is proving himself as a force to be reckoned with in European competition too, as highlighted by Sky Sports Statto after last Wednesday's 2-0 win over PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League:

News of Griezmann's interest in the Premier League comes as Arsenal's search for a world-class striker continues, with Olivier Giroud retaining his place as super-sub, while Lucas Perez has failed to make his mark at the Emirates Stadium.

Instead, it's been Alexis Sanchez playing slightly out of position who's creating the biggest stir in attack, although Squawka recently pointed out there's more to Griezmann's game than goals alone:

However, Arsenal's greatest threat in the hunt for Atleti's ace looks likely to be Manchester United. Griezmann already expressed his desire to line up alongside international team-mate Paul Pogba when speaking to Sky Sport Germany (h/t Tom Coast of Sport Witness).

Not only that, but the forward is widely known to have supported the Red Devils as a youngster—his younger brother, Theo, also supports United—and Coast also provided quotes from Griezmann's recent interview with L'Equipe:

"

[David] Beckham has always been my idol, and still is. The other day, on TV, I ended up watching a documentary on his career. I couldn't look away, just in awe of what he managed to do on the pitch and in his other lives.

I think I'd be a fan of Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar but also Paul, of course. Pogba is a player we see a lot, and someone who shines on the pitch and off it.

"

The chances of landing Griezmann look slim at best, and manager Arsene Wenger could be ruing another missed deal after Sandor Varga, agent of Manchester City starlet Zinchenko, lifted the lid on the Gunners' interest in his client.

The Ukrainian starlet is on loan at PSV from City after transferring from Russian club FC Ufa in the summer, and Varga told news outlet Championat (h/t Metro's Chris Davie) of Wenger's past interest in the player:

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Wenger called and said: 'I have need for that player. He's going to play in the first team. I know he is only seventeen, but I'm going to write a letter to his family that I will take care of him when he is with us and he'll play in the first team.'

Arsene had seen a youth game of Shakhtar and took 20 minutes to assess the potential of Oleksandr.

Wenger asked me 10 times about Zinchenko and I later informed him and felt even a bit sad because I couldn't help him. He teased me and said: 'I thought you were an authority in Eastern Europe.'

"

The Gunners may regret missing out on Zinchenko, who contributed two assists in PSV's 3-1 win over ADO Den Haag on Saturday, per the Eredivisie club's official Twitter account.

The 19-year-old looks set to one day make his way back to the Premier League, but it will be City, not Arsenal, who benefit from the midfielder's creative qualities.