Conflicting signals from San Sebastián and the Spain camp fuel speculation over midfielder’s long-expected Premier League move
As Spanish publication Sport attempts to untangle the increasingly opaque situation around Martín Zubimendi and Arsenal, a familiar pattern has re-emerged: Real Sociedad insist their midfielder could stay, while the player himself hints otherwise.
At Spain’s pre-Euros camp, Zubimendi admitted, “Of course there are options to continue [with Real Sociedad], but it’s true that it looks like it’s going to be a different, long summer and I don’t know what it’s going to end in.” That ambiguity, in context, reads as the closest thing to confirmation yet that a move is on the cards.
Arsenal have been circling the 26-year-old for over a year, and according to multiple sources, they have already secured an agreement with the player with talk of a medical dominating papers last week. While Real Sociedad are publicly maintaining that their metronome might remain in San Sebastián, privately they are said to be preparing for a sale.
The player’s release clause stands at €60 million, around £51 million, and reports suggest Arsenal are prepared to meet it in full. There is also talk of a higher figure, possibly €70 million (£59 million), should Real Sociedad agree to staggered payments across more manageable instalments.
Mikel Arteta is understood to view Zubimendi as central to his attempt to reconfigure Arsenal’s midfield, with an eye on finally winning the Premier League. The Gunners have already cleared several senior players from the wage bill, paving the way for their first major addition of the summer.
Zubimendi, who has resisted more financially lucrative offers in the past, has long favoured sporting stability. The lure of working under Arteta, in a tactically cohesive system and on a project now viewed as mature, appears to have finally tipped the balance.
With Liverpool backing off after last summer’s failed approach, Arsenal remain relatively unchallenged in their pursuit, although Real Madrid are making noises. Unless something radical changes, the midfielder’s arrival in north London is still expected once Real Sociedad’s new financial year begins in July.