According to Spanish publication AS, Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi is on the verge of accepting an offer to join Arsenal next season.
The 24-year-old was previously on Arsenal’s radar during the January transfer window but chose to stay with Sociedad due to their pursuit of Champions League qualification.
However, Barcelona is no longer in the running to sign Zubimendi, and he is now said to be “very close” to agreeing to play for the Gunners. While Zubimendi has a release clause of €60 million in his contract, Arsenal may propose a long-term payment plan instead of paying the fee upfront.
As a defensive midfielder, Zubimendi has been a consistent presence in La Liga this season, only missing games due to yellow card suspensions.
Although Thomas Partey currently occupies the number six role, Arsenal needs to plan for the future as Partey will turn 30 at the start of the 2023/24 season.
Zubimendi is seen as a potential young competitor and successor, based on reports from the Spanish media. In La Liga this season, he has completed 85% of his passes, won nearly two tackles and five duels per game, and excels in aerial challenges.
However, it remains to be seen if Zubimendi is Arteta’s top midfield target for the summer, as Arsenal has also been linked with Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo.
Ultimately, the decision will depend on Arteta’s preference, and the fact that he shares the same representative as Zubimendi could potentially work in Arsenal’s favor in securing his signature.