Russian football champions Zenit St Petersburg have started talks with a view to taking Andrey Arshavin on loan from English Premier League side Arsenal.

­“Arshavin would be interesting for Zenit in terms of a loan,” Maksim Mitrofanov, Zenit’s general director, told Sovetsky Sport newspaper. “For Andrey, it’ll be a chance to go to Euro 2012 well prepared. The question is what Arsenal want. Will they agree to a loan or not.”

Zenit are in need of a creative player up front as their key attacker Danny of Portugal is out for more than half a year with a knee injury.

“We’ve already talked with Arsenal,” Mitrofanov continued. “Let's see how they act further. Andrey still wants to play in England. In principle, he has every chance to perform there. The question is what kind of atmosphere there is around him and how he’s being used. It’s very important to play at the Euros for Andrey. And returning to his home club would be a good option in the current situation.”

Zenit and Arsenal are the only clubs in Arshavin’s professional career. He moved from St Pete to London in 2009 for €15 million, becoming the Gunners’ most expensive purchase ever.

The 30-year-old’s performances have been far from his top standards this season, with the playmaker not only losing his place in the Londoners’ starting line-up, but also being sent out to the reserve squad.

The clubs have two more days to reach an agreement on a loan as the transfer window in Russia shuts on Friday.

Resources: Zenit working to negotiate Arshavin loan from Arsenal

• Comment...
• Post comment