Arsenal will land long-term target Martin Zubimendi at the end of the season, Mail Sport can reveal.
The Real Sociedad star has been courted by Mikel Arteta for over 12 months and talks over a summer move are now at an advanced stage with sources indicating the deal is virtually completed.
Despite Arsenal’s current need for forward incomings owing to long term injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus, the Emirates club have focused their attentions on getting a deal in place for Zubimendi.
Arsenal would like the midfielder to join immediately but Sociedad have insisted Zubimendi stays until the end of the season.
Zubimendi chose to stay in Spain last summer despite varying degrees of interest from Arsenal and Liverpool, though it is understood the Gunners didn’t make a formal offer for the player during the previous window.
There has also been interest in Zubimendi from Manchester City following the season ending injury suffered by Rodri.
Arsenal are set to sign £51m Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, with the deal virtually done
Arsenal are bolstering Mikel Arteta’s engine room once again with a highly-rated acquisition
The Spanish star will leave Real Sociedad less than a year after rejecting a move to Liverpool
But Arsenal’s need for a new central midfielder ahead of next season has been heightened with Jorginho and Thomas Partey both out of contract at the end of the season and the club have accelerated their interest in Zubimendi.
No final decision has been made regarding potential contract offers to Jorginho or Partey.
Spain star Zubimendi is understood to have a €60million (£51m) release clause which Arsenal will formally trigger.
Zubimendi, 25, is viewed as one of the leading midfield talents in European football and is a key player for Spain.
The swoop will represent a major coup for Arsenal and Arteta given the player’s burgeoning reputation and interest from top clubs.
The club will now focus on strengthening their forward options this month as they look to cope with a worrying injury list.
Arteta said: ‘We are actively looking in the market to improve the squad. That’s been like that since day one.
‘It would be naive not to do that. It’s an opportunity to improve the squad. We are looking. We are trying. Let’s see what we can do.’
Arsenal have struggled in front of goal of late – but have decided to splash out on a midfielder
The Gunners’ attacking issues only worsened at the weekend with the injury of Gabriel Jesus
Euro 2024 winner Zubimendi (right) pictured alongside his Spain team-mates Mikel Merino (left) and Robin Le Normand (centre), who all played for Sociedad before the start of last term
The move for Zubimendi comes less than six months after Arsenal signed fellow Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino from the same LaLiga outfit.
Both Merino, who now has 21 appearances for the Gunners across all competitions, and Zubimendi were part of Spain’s triumphant European Championships campaign in 2024.
Liverpool came close to signing Zubimendi for £52m last summer before a dramatic U-turn saw the 25-year-old midfielder remain at the LaLiga club.
The Reds were keen to bolster their squad with a No 6 ahead of Arne Slot’s debut campaign at Anfield, before Zubimendi ultimately decided to stay.
Slot, who is still fighting on all four fronts for silverware this term, instead gave Ryan Gravenberch the opportunity to anchor Liverpool’s midfield — a decision which has proved fruitful so far.
Opening up on his decision to stay at Sociedad last summer, Zubimendi told the Spanish press in August: ‘I didn’t have any pressure from my close circle.
‘My friends are clear that whatever I decide, it will be the best. There is no pressure at all.
‘Real Sociedad for me is my life, I think I’ve been in there for half my life. A lot of what I am is part of Real, it’s my life,’ he added.
Ryan Gravenberch (left) has shone in the No 6 role since Zubimendi rejected joining Slot’s side
Zubimendi operates primarily as a No 6, which could see Declan Rice move further forward
Arsenal have made a habit of unveiling new midfielders in recent summers gone by, with former West Ham captain Declan Rice arriving at the Emirates in 2023 for £105m before Merino’s move in 2024.
Rice, who has established himself as a key first-team player under Arteta, may take on a more progressive role following Zubimendi’s arrival, given the Spaniard primarily operates in the No 6 position.
The Gunners, who crashed out of the FA Cup after a third-round defeat on penalties against Manchester United at the weekend, will hope to bounce back with a win over Tottenham in Wednesday’s huge north London derby at the Emirates.
Arsenal sit second in the Premier League heading into the clash with Ange Postecoglou’s side, six points behind table toppers Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
