Oleksandr Zinchenko still has Mikel Arteta’s faith and left-back isn’t a priority position for Arsenal to make a signing, though the club have been monitoring Ajax’s Jorrel Hato.

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 04: Oleksandr Zinchenko of Arsenal reacts prior to the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at Emirates Stadium on February 04, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Oleksandr Zinchenko of Arsenal reacts prior to the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at Emirates Stadium on February 04, 2024. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Charles Watts reports in his Daily Briefing that Mikel Arteta has a decision to make on Oleksandr Zinchenko this summer, but the Arsenal manager still believes in the left-back.

Arsenal’s priorities in the summer transfer market lie elsewhere, according to Watts, but he also isn’t ruling out a move for a left-back.

On that note, the reporter adds that Arsenal have been monitoring Jorrel Hato at Ajax. Hato is capable of playing at left-back or at centre-back, which could make him a good fit for the Gunners.

DORTMUND, GERMANY - AUGUST 06: Jorrel Hato of Ajax Amsterdam runs with the ball during the Pre-Season friendly match between Borussia Dortmund and AFC Ajax Amsterdam at Signal Iduna Park on August 06, 2023 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
DORTMUND, GERMANY: Jorrel Hato of Ajax Amsterdam runs with the ball during the Pre-Season friendly match between Borussia Dortmund and AFC Ajax Amsterdam at Signal Iduna Park on August 06, 2023. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

The bad news on Hato is that he’s already signed a new contract with Ajax to 2028.

Before the deal was made official, Dutch journalist Mike Verweij reported that Hato had attracted the interest of all the top teams in the Premier League, and Arsenal were willing to go the furthest financially.

But Hato and his agent decided it was wiser for the player to stay in the Netherlands for the time being.

There’s no release clause in the new contract, and as a result, no movement is expected this summer.

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 30: Oleksandr Zinchenko of Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, interact after the team's victory in the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal FC at City Ground on January 30, 2024 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND: Oleksandr Zinchenko of Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, interact after the team’s victory in the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal FC at City Ground on January 30, 2024. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

All in all, the situation is shaping up for Zinchenko to remain at Arsenal this summer.

Arsenal aren’t prioritising a left-back signing, and their one shortlisted option is currently unavailable.

The club surely wouldn’t let Zinchenko go without a replacement, particularly if Arteta is so fond of him, so something would have to change between now and the summer.