Arsenal are closing in on a deal to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi in the summer, Sky Sports News understands – but the Gunners are working hard for a new striker this month.
Zubimendi has a release clause believed to be £51m and Arsenal are already planning for the summer with Thomas Partey and Jorginho entering the final six months of their contracts.
It is thought Arsenal wanted to do a deal in this window but it appears a compromise has been struck for Zubimendi to stay at Sociedad for the rest of the season.
The 25 -year -old has a contract with Real Madrid until the summer of 2027. Last summer, Liverpool reached an agreement to sign Zubimendi, so that the player replaces his brain and stays in Spain.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are working hard on the scenes to recruit an attacker in this movement window.
The north London club have been exploring both long-term targets and short-term options even before Gabriel Jesus’ injury.
Arsenal will be reasonable, especially with long -term objectives, since he knows that ascent clubs will feel that they can score more.
The Gunners are one of the clubs that track PSG Randal Kolo Muani this month, Sky in Italy.
PSG are willing to let the 26-year-old leave but want a permanent sale or loan with an obligation to buy.
Sky Sports News understands Tottenham remain interested in the France international, while Manchester United have not followed up their initial enquiries.
Sky in Italy reports that Juventus, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund are the club clubs. Kolo Muani has been stagnant in the PSG because coach Luis Enrique prefers to play with a false nine.
Sam Blitz from Sky Sports:
The moment in which Arsenal approached Zubimenddi is very interesting. The majority of gunners enthusiasts are shouting a new striker, but, on the other hand, it is a defensive midfielder who will arrive at the end of this year from the Northern London club.
Looking at the smaller and wider context of this pursuit, Arsenal moving for Zubimendi is no surprise.
In a smaller context, Spanish is one of the most sought -after defensive midfielders in Europe, as demonstrated by Liverpool’s interest in him last summer.
“It’s not so easy to find players who can help us or even strengthen the squad. Zubimendi was one of them, to be fair, but he decided not to come,” said Liverpool boss Arne Slot in August. The notion that Liverpool saw the 25-year-old as an improvement to their already excellent squad speaks volumes.
The symptoms were also there previously last summer. Zubimendi’s second half is demonstrated at Euro 2024 Ultimate Opposite England, in which Spain stepped up after squandering the Ballon D’Or to Rodri with an injury at halftime, Strampa their rubies from their elite point status.
There is a wider context to the search for Zubimendi and perhaps Arsenal have waited for this move for some time. In the 2019-2020 season, the Zubimendi component of a Sociedad team that also had existing striker players Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino in midfield.
It’s also worth noting that Real Madrid’s starting striker this season was current Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, who the Gunners were linked with.
With doubts over the midfielder’s most productive position of Declan Rice at No. 6 or No. 8, as well as uncertainty in contracts around aging Jorginho and Thomas Partey, this is a dominance that Arsenal will have to strengthen.
Zubimendi turns out to be the best arrival given his career. He was formed through the young Basque Country Antiguoko amateur club, which also marked the beginning of the careers of Mikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso.
Zubimendi played under Alonso in the Real Sociedad B team, and is now about to work with another Antiguoko alumni in Arteta.
Arsenal want reinforcements upfront to striker Kai Hvertz after Gabriel Jesus suffered a suspected long-term injury, but who can sign?
Read Sky Sports’ shortlist for Arsenal here.
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