Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi would be interested in joining Arsenal in the summer, despite his hesitance to change club in January.

SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - MARCH 13: Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad celebrates scoring their side's first goal during the LaLiga Santander match between Real Sociedad and Deportivo Alaves at Reale Arena on March 13, 2022 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN: Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad celebrates scoring their side’s first goal during the LaLiga Santander match between Real Sociedad and Deportivo Alaves at Reale Arena on March 13, 2022. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Over the last week, reports emerged that Arsenal were interested in signing Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad this month.

The Gunners were reportedly willing to pay Zubimendi’s release clause, but despite Arsenal holding talks with his agents in London, the player doesn’t want to leave Sociedad this month.

But this might not be the end of the story. According to Cadena SER (via Sport Witness), Zubimendi is only turning down the Arsenal move for now, and he’d be interested to join in the summer.

The player would reportedly prefer a move to the Premier League over joining a La Liga club like Barcelona, and his €60m (£53m) release clause is viewed as affordable by Arsenal.

With Real Sociedad sitting third in La Liga, Zubimendi wants to stick it out until the end of the current campaign.

His decision not to join Arsenal isn’t because he doesn’t want to play for the club, nor because he prefers Barcelona. He’s simply showing loyalty to his current side.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 09: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal celebrates after their sides victory during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at Emirates Stadium on October 09, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal celebrates after their side’s victory during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at Emirates Stadium on October 09, 2022. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

On the one hand, this would seemingly put a summer move firmly on the table.

If Arsenal rate the 23-year-old highly, if they’re willing to pay the money to sign him, and if he’s open to joining, then all the pieces are in place for a transfer.

But it’s worth keeping in mind that Arsenal’s transfer targets don’t often stay consistent from window to window.

Arsenal went for Dusan Vlahovic last January, then switched to Gabriel Jesus in the summer.

They pursued Pedro Neto in the summer, then Mykhaylo Mudryk and Leandro Trossard this month.

Houssem Aouar was a key midfield target in 2020, but the Gunners never returned for him after that.

You turn Arsenal down at your peril, because you may not get another opportunity to join them. We’ll see if that’s the case with Zubimendi this summer.