Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Chelsea are going to have to spend a significant amount of the rest of their transfer budget if they want to sign Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi this summer.
Blues manager Xabi Alonso has recommended signing Zubimendi as a new midfielder this summer, with there very little security over the position at Stamford Bridge.
Enzo Fernandez has currently not given any assurances over him staying at the club for next season, leaving Alonso in a bit of a limbo when it comes to what his midfield will look like.
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Arsenal want £68m for Chelsea target Martin Zubimendi
The two crossed paths at Real Sociedad, and the current midfielder’s strong season at Arsenal is a clear reason why the Blues boss will want him.
However, Latigo Serrano has stated that Arsenal’s desire to make a profit on Zubimendi will mean Chelsea will have to pay in the region of €80m, which works out as around £68m.
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Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
He said: “Arsenal paid €60 million for Zubimendi last year, and naturally they wanted to make a profit on him.
“In other words, Arsenal wouldn’t have allowed Zubimendi to leave — and won’t allow him to leave if someone wants him during the remaining three weeks of the summer transfer window — for less than €80 million.
“That’s because they believe transfer prices have exploded this summer. There’s been huge inflation around midfielders in particular, with the amounts spent on players such as Elliot Anderson, Mateus Fernandes, Tonali and Bruno Guimarães.
“And with Rodri’s transfer to Barcelona also expected to happen, Arsenal’s argument is essentially: “We paid €60 million for this player a year ago, and if the price of midfielders has increased by 30%, then the value of our midfielder has increased by 30% too.”
“It doesn’t matter that he didn’t finish the season as a starter — at the very least, they want that same 30% increase. That’s why Arsenal were asking for €80 million.”
Chelsea looking at multiple Arsenal stars as transfer targets
As well as Zubimendi, talk over signing Myles Lewis-Skelly has ramped up again following reports that Chelsea have been offered the chance to sign him.
The Arsenal youngster has been on Chelsea’s radar for a while now as a player they are intrigued about signing.
His versatility would make Lewis-Skelly one of the signings of the summer as far as Chelsea are concerned, and one they should target instead of Zubimendi.