Arsenal are set to rebuild this summer under Andrea Berta.Arsenal are set to rebuild this summer under Andrea Berta.
Arsenal are set to rebuild this summer under Andrea Berta. | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Mikel Arteta appears to have got his man in Martin Zubimendi and Arsenal can move onto new transfer deals.
The 26-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium in recent months with the Gunners supposedly looking to capitalise on the player’s £51 million release clause. Zubimendi has been with Real Sociedad since a youth player in 2011 and is now set to make the switch to the Premier League to work with compatriot Mikel Arteta.
Providing an update at the weekend, Romano confirmed that personal terms had now been agreed. Given that Arsenal have the power to green light a transfer themselves by meeting the release clause, all signs are pointing towards a done deal.
‘Here we go’: Arsenal set to sign Martin Zubimendi
Romano took to social media platform X and wrote: “Arsenal agree deal to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, here we go! Zubimendi has now verbally agreed to sign a long term deal… so formal steps must follow soon with Arsenal to trigger €60m clause. Zubi, ready to become the first signing of the new season.”
The midfielder is set to become the first signing of technical director Andrea Berta, who has joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid to replace Edu. Signing a striker remains the number one priority for the Gunners this summer, having lacked firepower this season.
According to a fresh report from Football Insider, the next Arsenal transfer could be a move for frozen out Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku. The outlet claims that Nkunku is ‘all-but certain to leave Chelsea’ and that he is on a ‘shortlist’ for the Gunners.
Christopher Nkunku on Arsenal striker shortlist
Arsenal are set to face hot competition from the Bundesliga should they want to land that deal but Chelsea are not expected to block an exit for the player. Nkunku has made just seven starts in the Premier League this season under Enzo Maresca but has been prolific in cup competitions. The Frenchman has 11 goals in 15 appearances away from league action.
Chelsea paid £52 million to bring Nkunku to Stamford Bridge from RB Leipzig in 2023 but the forward is clearly not part of Maresca’s future plans. Nkunku did not see any minutes against Everton at the end of April in a ‘technical decision’ from Maresca and has been absent since with an injury - it remains to be seen whether he will be fit enough to play for Chelsea again this season.
Nkunku has been praised by Maresca for his work ethic recently but the manager also acknowledged his lack of form. Speaking after the 3-0 win over Legia Warszawa, Maresca said: “Probably in this moment is lack of confidence and the reason why is because he’s missing goal or penalty like tonight but the only way to deal with that is to work hard every day because when you work hard for sure the reward is important, the problem is when you stop to work and the good thing about Christoph is that he’s working well every day.”
In other news, Arsenal expected to confirm £60m and £17m transfers before marquee striker signing.
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