Arsenal Transfer News: Andriy Yarmolenko Deal Reported, Latest Rumours

Arsenal have reportedly agreed a deal to sign exciting winger Andriy Yarmolenko from Dynamo Kiev.

That’s according to Ukrainian outlet Sport (h/t Alex Wood of the Daily Star), which claimed the 26-year-old will join the Gunners in the summer in a £23 million move. As noted in the piece, Everton have previously been strongly linked with a move for Yarmolenko.

His signing would be a brilliant coup for Arsenal if they were able to pull it off. The Kiev man is one of European football’s hidden gems, with no team yet proving capable of prising him away from the club with whom he's spent his entire professional career. Here’s what he can offer:
Yarmolenko is a genuine wide player, and operating on the right flank, he’d be a brilliant acquisition for the Gunners. Attacking-wise, he’s a massive threat with a blistering turn of pace, a box of tricks and a thunderous left foot. His ability to dart inside or burst around the outside of defenders makes him a hugely difficult player to contain.
As we can see here, courtesy of WhoScored.com, the Ukraine international is regular goalscorer too:
But there are other factors that make Yarmolenko almost unique for his position. Firstly, he’s a tall player, standing at almost 6'3", meaning he can be a major aerial threat against full-backs at the back post. Additionally, he’s a hard worker, something that would be key at Arsenal with 
Hector Bellerin potentially bombing on from right-back.

 

Yarmolenko possesses all the attributes to be a big success in the Premier League.

Aaron Ramsey does a brilliant job on the right for Arsenal in their best starting XI, but Yarmolenko is a natural for the role. And while adapting to a new league may be tough for a player so used to home comforts, if the Gunners could add his vibrant wing play to their attacking setup, it’d make the team a force to be reckoned with.

Arsenal to Improve Offer for Ben Chilwell

 

According to an exclusive piece in the Sun from Mark Irwin, Arsenal are set to make an improved bid of £4 million in an attempt to land Leicester City’s prodigious left-back Ben Chilwell.
“The Gunners have already had a £3 million offer rejected by Leicester for 19-year-old Chilwell,” wrote Irwin. “But they are ready to try again before Monday’s transfer deadline to head off rival interest from Spurs and Liverpool.”
The youngster has yet to feature in the Premier League for the Foxes, having spent the first part of the season on loan at Huddersfield Town. However, the teenager did start recently in Leicester’s two FA Cup ties with Tottenham Hotspur and impressed with his balanced playing style.

 

Chilwell shone in two FA Cup clashes with Spurs recently.

Sports writer Raj Bains feels as though Chilwell has a very promising future and was impressed with his performances at Huddersfield:
Arsenal aren’t desperate for left-backs, with Nacho Monreal excelling and Kieran Gibbs in reserve. Still, it’s important to add fresh blood to the squad, and a young, English player such as Chilwell would give everyone a big boost at the Emirates Stadium.
The move would arguably be a little too early for the teenager, though. After all, he’s not starting games regularly for Leicester yet, and he’d be even further down the pecking order at Arsenal. Pushing for a spot in the Foxes first team should be his next aim and then cementing his spot in the XI of a side that seems to be going places under Claudio Ranieri.