FINALLY DONE: Arsenal overtake Chelsea and Man city in the transfer race to sign £70m Most skillful player in the world, Medical ongoing as announcement will be done any moment from now
FINALLY DONE: Arsenal overtake Chelsea and Man city in the transfer race to sign £70m Most skillful player in the world, Medical ongoing as announcement will be done any moment from now
Arsenal will pay in excess of €60m (£51m) to secure the signing of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed.
The Gunners are reportedly set to spend slightly more than the ‘world-class’ Spanish international’s release clause, with the higher fee allowing them to pay in instalments, as the two clubs share an ‘excellent’ relationship.
A deal for Zubimendi is expected to be finalised soon, potentially making him Arsenal’s first signing of the summer transfer window.
The Euro 2024 winner has developed into one of the best holding midfielders in the world during his five-year spell with Real Sociedad’s first team and was heavily linked with a departure last summer.
Premier League winners Liverpool came close to signing Zubimendi almost 12 months ago, before the midfielder showed loyalty to his hometown club and decided to snub interest from Merseyside.
Zubimendi will now join Arsenal as a replacement for Jorginho, who departed for Flamengo earlier this month, and as a new midfield partner for Declan Rice.
Arsenal’s summer business is only expected to accelerate following a deal for the Spaniard, with a new striker also high on the agenda for Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners are believed to be considering Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko as two of their main options up front.
Both strikers are thought to be keen on a move to the Emirates, with Gyokeres reportedly prioritising Arsenal over a potential reunion with Ruben Amorim at Manchester United.
