Chelsea are seriously considering making a move for Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi before the transfer window closes, according to journalist Simon Phillips.
Manager Xabi Alonso is keen to add a midfielder who can dictate play, and speaking on his YouTube channel, Phillips said that Zubimendi is high up the list of options:
“I’ve heard that Alonso is very much looking for a tempo setter in midfield. He doesn’t feel that that’s an option that he really has at the moment, especially if Enzo [Fernandez] goes, so yeah, I can see something happening with Zubimendi.”
“I can see Arsenal being a little bit more willing to sell him because he’s not going to be starting there this season. I’m assuming he’s going to know that as well.”
“So, he’s going to be having a look at that, and it could be certainly one to watch as we go into the end of the window if Chelsea cannot get, say, an Adam Wharton, who has been the main priority, or an Alex Scott, who has been up there as well with Wharton for months now.”
Zubimendi is way down the pecking order at Arsenal
Despite only moving to the Emirates last summer, the Spanish international is now fourth choice for starting opportunities in the middle of the park.
Myles Lewis-Skelly moved ahead of Zubimendi at the back end of last season, and with Bruno Guimaraes having been signed from Newcastle, the Brazilian will likely partner either Lewis-Skelly or Declan Rice.
Chelsea would need to sell Fernandez first
As Phillips mentions, any move for Zubimendi or another midfielder is still probably dependent on Enzo Fernandez being offloaded to Manchester City, despite imposing a deadline of last Friday for the player to leave Stamford Bridge.
City are expected to make an approach for the Argentinian international following the completion of Rodri’s transfer to Barcelona.