Arsenal may be willing to pay more than Martin Zubimendi’s release clause to secure the signing of the midfielder this summer, according to a report.
Arsenal have been strongly linked with Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi in the last 24 hours, with some sources suggesting the move is all but done for a summer transfer.
Part of the reason for that confidence is that Zubimendi has a release clause in his contract set at €60m (£50.6m). If all else fails, Arsenal can simply activate it, and reports suggest they’re willing to do so.
Yet David Ornstein and James McNicholas of The Athletic suggest the Gunners could even decide to pay more than required.
Ornstein reports that Arsenal might look to pay a bit more than the clause so they can stagger the payments to allow them to do other business this summer. Spanish release clauses have to be paid in one go, so activating the clause would mean paying almost £51m upfront.
McNicholas confirms that the Gunners may be prepared to pay slightly more if they can negotiate more favourable payment terms.
Liverpool had strongly pushed to sign Zubimendi last summer, but the player turned them down to remain where he was.
Arsenal didn’t make a formal offer at the time, and Manchester City had seemed like the player’s more likely destination following Rodri’s injury. But it seems the 25-year-old is set for a move to north London instead.
Zubimendi is a key player for club and country at the moment, making 22 appearances for Real Sociedad this season and starting four of Spain’s last six matches.
The midfielder was also a regular in the Spain squad as they won Euro 2024, making four appearances including 45 vital minutes to win the final following the injury to Rodri.