Arsenal appear to have won the race for one of their biggest long-term transfer targets, as it is reported that his current club have already found his replacement after learning that the player has been ‘selected’ by the Gunners.
While it is perhaps Arsenal’s biggest priority to sign a number nine who can provide them with a constant source of goals, Mikel Arteta also wanted a successor to Thomas Partey in midfield.
Arsenal made a record transfer of Declan Rice this summer, but the more than 200 million euros spent on transfers in January made it difficult to add more players as the club is on the verge of the financial constraints of fair play.
Spanish newspaper todofichajes claimed via El Nacional that Arsenal will beat Barcelona, Aston Villa and Atheltic Bilbao to sign Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi, with a transfer more likely in the summer, although the Gunners did try to sign him this winter.
The 24-year-old was one of Arteta’s main candidates to form a center-back pairing with Rice, but Zubimendi resisted the temptation to leave Sociedad this summer, preferring to play his first Champions League game with his boyhood club.
Zubimendi has a €60 million clause in his contract and Sociedad have reportedly “already come to terms with the idea of losing one of their best assets” and have approached Las Palmas assistant Enzo Loiodice as a replacement.
Zubimendi is ready to leave Sociedad
Zubimendi, often compared to Sergio Busquets, has established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe and Barcelona tried to sign a player to replace their legend in the summer.
Zubimendi has told all clubs, including Arsenal, that he does not want to leave Sociedad after leading it to the Champions League for the first time in 10 years.
But Zubimendi, who helped Sociedad top Group D ahead of the knockout game against Paris Saint-Germain, is now ready to leave and has apparently chosen Arsenal as his destination.
Arsenal will not be able to pay Zubimendi’s release clause this month without a significant sale, meaning a move is more likely in the summer when Arteta will also want to redeem Partey and restructure the midfield.