Real Madrid are pushing hard to hijack Arsenal's deal to sign Martin Zubimendi but the Gunners remain confident the midfielder will join them this summer, football.london understands.
The Real Sociedad star has been on Arsenal's radar for a number of years with Mikel Arteta an admirer of the player's talents. The 26-year-old has already verbally agreed a move to Emirates Stadium, football.london understands, with only a medical left to complete.
The player has a €60million (£51million) release clause in his contract and any move will likely be announced in July for accounting reasons. It's understood Spanish giants Madrid are interested in hijacking the deal, however, with the La Liga side pushing hard to convince the player to choose them over the Gunners.
Arsenal have been confident for a long period of time that they will get the deal done, though, as a lot of work has gone into the pursuit of Zubimendi. The Spanish international's move to Arsenal remains at an advanced stage although it's thought the situation remains open amid the fresh Madrid links.
Zubimendi, who featured 48 times for Sociedad throughout the 2024/25 season, is seen as the perfect No.6 for Arsenal this summer. With Jorginho's exit already confirmed, the club are also trying to persuade Thomas Partey to stay for a further year, with the Ghanaian's contract set to expire in a matter of weeks.
The Gunners are expected to be extremely busy this summer with the club understood to be in the market for a back-up goalkeeper, defender, central midfielder, striker and possibly a wide forward. The north Londoners are set to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga after the Spaniard agreed to make the switch from Chelsea.
The club will only have to pay the £5million release clause plus the player's wages, which are expected to have dropped since he signed in west London from Athletic Club, which was a world record fee for a goalkeeper at the time. He became Bournemouth’s starter last season, and despite missing five league games finished sixth in the Premier League clean sheet table for keepers with eight.
Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are the two strikers who have been heavily linked with a switch to Arsenal. It's believed a move for Sesko is favoured, though, with Gunners chiefs keen to push on with a deal in the coming days.