Arsenal remain very active behind-the-scenes in terms of their summer recruitment plans, as manager Mikel Arteta and new sporting director Andrea Berta attempt to close the gap on Premier League champions Liverpool next season.
Arsenal set to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi
The north Londoners, after months of talks, recently sealed a deal for Spain international midfielder Martin Zubimendi, as per numerous reliable reports.
Arsenal dream XI (1) Related
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He's a leader in the dressing room.
News of Zubimendi's potential move to London Colney was first revealed by The Mail back in January, and Berta has been working to finalise a deal for the 26-year-old ever since - coming after his predecessor Edu and ex-interim director Jason Ayto laid most of the groundwork (Ben Jacobs).
The Real Sociedad favourite is now set to become Berta's first signing as the Gunners' new transfer chief, but he largely has both Ayto and Edu to thank for this, as they were the "driving forces" behind Zubimendi's switch (Ben Jacobs).
Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports) Money on new signings
--- ---
19/20 - winter £0
20/21 - summer £81.5m
20/21 - winter £900k
21/22 - summer £156.8m
21/22 - winter £1.8m
22/23 - summer £121.5m
22/23 - winter £59m
23/24 - summer £208m
23/24 - winter £0
24/25 - summer £101.5m
24/25 - winter £0
Despite some concerns about Real Madrid mounting a late hijack, especially after Zubimendi's cryptic comments regarding his future, Fabrizio Romano is among the credible media sources to share news last week that the player travelled to London and put the finishing touches on his Emirates Stadium move.
Arsenal will also pay around £55 million for Zubimendi, despite his lower release clause, as a gesture of good faith to Sociedad which also allows the club to pay the fee in installments.
With Zubimendi's done and dusted, attention is swiftly turning to who could follow him, and that man is apparently £150,000-per-week Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Romano has given his 'here we go' to Arrizabalaga's Arsenal move today, with the player also travelling to the club this week as he puts the finishing touches on his N5 transfer.
Kepa Arrizabalaga travelling to London this week after agreeing Arsenal move
The 30-year-old has been poised to join Arsenal for a little while now as he looks to battle David Raya for the number one spot (David Ornstein), with The Athletic's James McNicholas sharing more on the situation.
kepa-arrizabalaga-premier-league-bournemouth
Kepa is personally in London "this week" to finalise his move to Arsenal, so the Stamford Bridge outcast appears set to become Berta's second signing of the summer.
The former Athletic Bilbao ace's capture has already been widely praised, with his meagre £5 million cost coming as a potential bargain given Kepa's extensive top-level experience.
“Arsenal do need a replacement for Neto, what a loan spell that was, it didn’t work, that is for sure," said pundit Adrian Clarke on Inside Gooners earlier this month.
"Kepa Arrizabalaga, he’s available for just £5m, that sounds like the deal of the century, doesn’t it."