Craig Burley has claimed that Arsenal may be in line to sell one of their midfielders in the summer after agreeing a deal for Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi.
In recent days, Arsenal has reached the headlines by completing an agreement to indicate Zubimendi, who has a £ 51 million clause.
The Spanish midfielder would sign now but would arrive this summer, which could open the door to a replacement in Mikel Arteta’s midfield. After all, Jorginho and Thomas Party are at the end of their contracts this summer, meaning there may be a gap to fill in their squad.
However, ex-Chelsea and Scotland midfielder Burley told ESPN that it may be the 2024 summer signing Mikel Merino who may be allowed to leave.
‘Arsenal are going to have to do something pretty special. I don’t think signing a new striker guarantees anything but it gives them a much better chance.
“They knew that would be the stage. They knew they didn’t have a herbal scorer.
“They went out and signed Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori last summer. These are smart players, but they are now linked with a move for Martín Zubimendi this summer. This would mean that Merino would come out because Merino will play in front of Zubimendi and Rice.
“But even if they recruit a new midfielder, they will still have to take care of the front position, that is the key area. “
On the other hand, Zubimendi and Merino shape a solid association for society of their time in combination in Spain. In total, 165 matches played in combination for clubs and countries at other levels.
This includes the Spanish Senior team, as well as the youth team and played in combination for the first time in the 2018/19 season, ensuring a 2-1 victory for the Society opposed to Getafe. In 165 games, the two men controlled 79 wins, 43 draws and 43 losses.
If Jorginho and Party leave, that would leave Arteta with players (Zubimendi, Merino, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Ethan Nwaneri) for a typical three in the midfield.
With Gabriel Jesus’ long-term performance doubtful following his new long-term injury and neither Kai Hvertz nor Leandro Trossard able to lead the line effectively, a striker may be sought to complete their starting line-up.
Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, Juventus’ Dusan Vhalovic and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko are three forwards that have been linked and all three would be welcome in Arteta’s attack.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein has shown that Vhalovic and Sesko would be feasible for the existing January window, but a summer ruling has ruled for either player.