Arsenal are expected to sign world football's "second best" player with the groundwork for a deal already done, according to a very reliable media source.
Andrea Berta holds talks with key Arsenal targets
New sporting director Andrea Berta is set to take the lead in what is anticipated to be a pretty busy summer window for the north Londoners.
andrea-berta-arsenal-premier-league Related
Arsenal make offer to £30m star after Berta successfully convinced Arteta
The Italian and Arsenal's manager are already working on the club's transfer plans this summer.
Nuno Tavares, Albert Sami Lokonga, Fabio Vieira and Oleksandr Zinchenko could all quit Arsenal in the summer, according to Sami Mokbel, with Jorginho also agreeing to join Flamengo and Kieran Tierney set to make a return to Celtic after their contracts expire.
Arsenal's final Premier League games Date
Liverpool (away) May 11th
Newcastle United (home) May 18th
Southampton (away) May 25th
If Arsenal don't agree an extension with Thomas Partey, following his arguably best season at the Emirates to date, then the Ghana international will follow them - so it appears there will be plenty of ins and outs.
In terms of incomings, Berta is believed to have reached out to the representatives of a few key summer targets already.
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Recently, the Italian has been pushing to sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, with extensive discussions held, according to Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg.
As well as this, Berta reached out for talks with Nico Williams' representatives in one of his first acts as sporting director, as per The Guardian's Ed Aarons, with Arsenal exploring a move for one of La Liga's standout talents.
However, one man who could be arriving before any of them is Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi.
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The Gunners have been in advanced talks for his signature since January (The Mail), and the reliable David Ornstein says that those within Arsenal are behaving like they've already sealed a deal for Zubimendi.
Arsenal expected to sign Martin Zubimendi this summer
Now, a very credible source in the BBC, and their reporter Mokbel, have shared an update of their own.
Arsenal are very much expected to sign Zubimendi, according to their information, and the groundwork for a deal has already been done, largely by ex-sporting director Edu Gaspar and interim chief Jason Ayto.
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The Spain international's £51 million release clause looks likely to be triggered, but Arsenal should be wary that Zubimendi rejected a move to Liverpool last summer.
Arsenal will be eager to get this over the line early doors after months of negotiations, especially considering Zubimendi's pedigree as a truly elite number six.
"For me, Martín is the second-best player in the world. We are incredibly lucky to have these two, who I consider the best players in the world." said Spain boss Luis de la Fuente on Zubimendi and Rodri.
"But we also have other fantastic players who've been here and are with us now—another fantastic player, Pepelu hasn't come yet, but he's been called up with us."