According to BBC Sport, Nottingham Forest are exploring the possibility of cutting short Oleksandr Zinchenko’s season-long loan spell this month.
The Ukraine international had been expected to see out the final year of his Arsenal contract after summer interest from AC Milan and Marseille fizzled out. However, a late move to the City Ground materialised on transfer deadline day following a swoop by former Arsenal sporting director Edu.
The deal, which earned the Gunners a modest loan fee and offered Zinchenko the prospect of regular first-team football, was welcomed by all parties and pushed through quickly. Unfortunately, it hasn’t worked out as hoped.
Injuries have again disrupted Zinchenko’s campaign, with a groin problem sidelining him for six weeks. Across the 10 matches he has featured in, Forest have failed to win a league game and have exited both the FA Cup and EFL Cup to lower-league opposition. Their European outings, however, have been more encouraging.
Compounding matters, just a week into Zinchenko’s spell, Nuno Espirito Santo was dismissed and replaced by Ange Postecoglou. After a torrid run of results, the Australian was himself sacked by owner Evangelos Marinakis within two months, with Sean Dyche brought in as his successor. Amid the upheaval, Forest sit just above the relegation zone, though they do hold a seven-point cushion over West Ham.
There is reportedly no contractual mechanism for Forest to terminate Zinchenko’s loan early, meaning any exit would rely on Arsenal facilitating a move in the player’s best interests. Should that happen, Zinchenko is likely to seek a fresh start elsewhere, potentially back on the continent.
As for Arsenal, significant January business remains unlikely. West Ham have been monitoring Ethan Nwaneri, but with fixtures piling up, the club are reluctant to sanction the departure of a player who proved his value last season.
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