Arsenal are expected to win the title race Sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi is set to pen a £51million deal next summer, according to a report.
Zubimendi has been attracting great interest for years. The technically gifted controller, who operates at the base of Real Sociedad’s midfield, snubbed Liverpool last summer and opted to stay with his boyhood club to further develop as a player.
After six more months of consistently impressive performances in Spain’s top flight, Zubimendi is now ready for a move.
Liverpool remained interested in the 25-year-old and Manchester City had identified him as a possible replacement for his compatriot Rodri. Even Real Madrid have joined the growing list of suitors, but Arsenal appear to have left these top-class rivals behind.
The Gunners have all but agreed to trigger the £51m release clause in Zubimendi’s contract, with the move “virtually complete” according to FC sources Daily Mail. Despite Arsenal’s desire to bring the Spaniard to London this month, Real Sociedad insist on keeping their star player until the summer.
Many would argue that a new midfielder should not be Arsenal’s transfer priority. Gabriel Jesus could be sidelined for the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury in last weekend’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester United, adding to the absences of fellow strikers Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri.
Arteta admitted the club is “actively looking at ways to improve the squad” but they are constrained by more than the usual restrictions of the winter window. With Neto and Raheem Sterling already out on loan, Arsenal cannot sign any more loan players from Premier League clubs for the rest of the season.
While Zubimendi will not address Arsenal’s distinct lack of excellence – he has scored a total of nine goals throughout his professional career – he will provide a youthful replacement for outgoing midfield duo Thomas Partey and Jorginho, who will both be out of contract in the summer.