TBR Football can exclusively reveal the latest on Arsenal’s pursuit of Martin Zubimendi and what the Gunners plan to do next in the transfer market.
Arsenal have been working on a deal for Zubimendi for some time now, and the Gunners have finally got it over the line.
Zubimendi famously rejected Liverpool last summer, but now it looks like it’s only a matter of time before he will be a Premier League player.
TBR Football can also reveal how much the Gunners are paying, what is known about a potential medical and announcement, and how much a threat Real Madrid were to Arsenal’s hopes.
Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi
Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
Arsenal targeting more midfield reinforcements as three names mentioned
With the Martin Zubimendi deal now wrapped up, the Gunners will be turning their attentions to more reinforcements in midfield, according to TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey.
Sverre Nypan was a target, though he’s now Manchester City-bound, while Sevilla’s Lucien Agoume, Lille prodigy Ayyoub Bouaddi and Atletico Madrid’s Pablo Barrios are also on Arsenal’s radar.
“Arsenal want another midfielder – Jorginho is gone and they are now really expecting Thomas Partey to go,” Bailey exclusively told TBR Football.
“Even before Zubimendi, we know they wanted Nypan and have looked at the likes of Agoume, Bouaddi and Barrios – so they will look at another this summer and are doing work on it.”
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How much Arsenal paid for Martin Zubimendi and when announcement could take place
Sources close to the Zubimendi deal spoke exclusively to Bailey, and they revealed that it was only finalised this week.
This is because Real Sociedad were hesitating over the fee, and this has been resolved by Arsenal paying €63million, €3million higher than his release clause. This is to enable instalments.
“The deal has actually just been finalised in the last 48 hours,” Bailey said.
“The two were in general agreement but Real Sociedad were digging their heels in over the fact Arsenal had to go higher than the clause.
“That has now been agreed with Arsenal paying a few million euros above the clause and Sociedad have now accepted their idea of paying the release clause in instalments.
“Zubimendi’s personal terms are already in place, so once he had permission to travel – he was coming to London and that is now the case.”
In terms of a medical, Bailey said he believes it might already be done, and in terms of an announcement, he suggested it could be very soon indeed.
“It could be announced this weekend, Arsenal want it done, but whether they announce it – the club are not saying,” said Bailey.
As for Real Madrid’s interest, Bailey said this was more a case of “mischief” from the media in the Spanish capital.
“That was really a bit of mischief from the Madrid press,” said Bailey. The player committed to Arsenal months ago.
“Real spoke to him last summer, he knew they had an interest but he decided his future early in 2025.
“He has a lot of respect for Xabi Alonso, but him going to Real was not going to impact on the situation.”