Arsenal was thought to be close to securing the services of Martin Zubimendi, but now that might not be the case.
Arsenal's need to get its summer transfer business up and rolling is crucial, and fans know the potential implications of delaying any business.
The Gunners, after finishing runners up in the Premier League again, must not sit on their hands when it comes to getting their transfer targets signed, sealed and delivered.
Mikel Arteta needs a strong summer, and with players like William Saliba garnering interest from the likes of Real Madrid, showing those players and the fans that the club means business is crucial.
Enter Martin Zubimendi.
Is Arsenal's Zubimendi deal now in doubt?
The defensive midfielder was thought to be close to finalizing his move to north London, but the player himself has perhaps unknowningly cast doubt over his proposed transfer to the Gunners.
While on national duty with Spain, Zubimendi spoke on Radio Nacional de España about his future.
"Of course there are options, but it's true that it seems that it's going to be a different, long summer and I don't know what it's going to end up in," Zubimendi said via News from Gipuzkoa
So there are a couple of ways to look at this.
The most obvious one is that Martin is waiting for Real Madrid to properly assess his options, and the other is that there is nothing to really report on, and he is on national team duty. Which means he will sort out his club future when his international games are over.
That is pretty clear cut.
Now, with rumors and reports flying all over the place, it can be hard to see the forest through the trees when it comes to believing what is being said.
Is Arsenal interested in Zubimendi? Yes. But until we see it as official, either from the Gunners, Zubimendi himself, or another team like Real Madrid, it's as you were.
But Martin has made it clear that no plans have been finalized when it comes to his playing future.
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