Premier League side Arsenal will reportedly sign long-term target Martin Zubimfinishi from Real Sociedad at the end of the season.
Zubimendi was heavily linked with Premier League clubs last year, with Arsenal first considered as his most likely next destination until Liverpool decide to sign him this summer.
Liverpool’s summer priority was to sign a new No.6 and Zubimendi was chosen as their preferred target. The Premier League giants were expected to secure his services, but this proposed transfer fell through as the Spaniard decided to stick with his boyhood club Real Sociedad.
Zubimendi was subsequently expected to commit his future to Real Sociedad by signing a contract extension, but he is yet to do so and has still been linked with an exit.
Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City have also been linked, with the Daily Mail now claiming that Arsenal have a “deal virtually sealed” to sign Zubimenddi in the summer.
The newspaper claims that Arsenal ‘will achieve long-term target Martin Zubimfinishi at the end of the season’ after the Real Society midfielder had been ‘courted through Mikel Arteta for over 12 months and talks during a summer move are now on a complex level with a complex level with sources pointing to the deal still being made.
The report adds:
It’s understood that Zubimendi has a €60million (£51m) release clause in his contract at the Reale Arena and Arsenal ‘will formally trigger’ that in the summer.
The agreement occurs after Arteta revealed on Tuesday that Arsenal was looking “actively” functions for his team in January after the injuries of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus.
Asked if Jesus’ injury increases the need for signings this month, Arteta told a news conference: “My answer doesn’t change. We actively read about the market to improve the equipment. We have been. I wouldn’t be naïve, not too. We take a look and try it, so let’s see what we can do.
“To recruit a player there are three parties who have to agree to that. The fact I love my players doesn’t mean we can’t think about improving. We do daily and when the market comes around we have to make sure we have the best resources and capacity to compete the way that we want to.”