Arsenal transfers: The Gunners are closing in on a deal to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad this summer | Football news

Arsenal are closing in on a deal to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi this summer. Sky Sports news understand – but the Gunners are working hard for a new striker this month.

Zubimendi has a release clause believed to be £51m and Arsenal are already planning the summer with Thomas Party and Jorginho into the final six months of their contracts.

It is believed that Arsenal would do a deal in this window, but it appears that a compromise has been reached for Zubimendi to stay at Sociedad for the rest of the season.

The 25-year-old is under contract at La Real until the summer of 2027. Liverpool struck a deal to sign Zubimendi last summer – only for the player to change his mind and stay in Spain.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are working hard behind the scenes to recruit a striker in this transfer window.

The north London club have previously explored both long-term goals and short-term options Gabriel Jesus‘damage.

Arsenal will be sensible, especially with long-term targets, as they know selling clubs will feel they can charge more.

The Gunners are one of the clubs to keep an eye on PSG forward Randal Kolo Muani this month according to Sky in Italy.

PSG are willing to let the 26-year-old go, but want a permanent sale or loan with an obligation to buy.

Sky Sports news understand that Tottenham remain interested in the France international, while Manchester United have not followed up on their initial enquiries.

Sky in Italy reports that Juventus, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund are the other clubs in the running. Kolo Muani has been frozen out at PSG because head coach Luis Enrique prefers to play with a false nine.

Analysis: Arsenal get their own Rodri in Zubimendi

Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz:

The timing of Arsenal’s imminent move for Zubimendi is very interesting. Most of the Gunners fanbase are clamoring for a new striker, but instead it is a defensive midfield arrival later in the year to emerge from the north London club.

Looking at the smaller and wider context of this pursuit, it’s no surprise that Arsenal are moving for Zubimendi.

In the smaller context, the Spaniard is one of the most sought-after defensive midfielders in Europe – best shown by Liverpool’s public interest in him last summer.

“It’s not that easy to find players who can help us or even strengthen the squad. Zubimendi was one of them, to be fair, but he decided not to come,” Liverpool boss Arne Slot said in August . The notion that Liverpool saw the 25-year-old as an enhancement to their already excellent squad speaks volumes.

The signs were also there earlier last summer. Zubimendi’s second-half display in the Euro 2024 final against England – where Spain actually improved after losing future Ballon D’Or winner Rodri to injury at half-time – stamped his status at elite level.

There is a wider context to the Zubimendi pursuit and perhaps Arsenal have been planning this move for some time. In the 2019–20 season, Zubimendi was part of a Sociedad side that also featured current Gunners players Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino in midfield.

It’s also worth noting that the starting striker in La Real’s team that season was current Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, who the Gunners have been linked with.

Arsenal are ultimately trying to get their own Rodri. With doubts over Declan Rice’s best midfield position as no. 6 or no. 8 – plus uncertainty over the contracts of aging midfielders Jorginho and Thomas Partey – is an area Arsenal need to strengthen.

Zubimendi seems like the perfect arrival given his background. He was shaped by the Basque Country’s amateur youth club Antiguoko – which also marked the start of the careers of Mikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso.

Zubimendi played under Alonso in the Real Sociedad B team and is now working with another Antiguoko alumni in Arteta.

Which strikers could Arsenal sign this month?

Arsenal need reinforcements up front to support striker Kai Havertz after Gabriel Jesus picked up a suspected long-term injury – but who could they sign?

Read Sky Sports’ striker shortlist for Arsenal here.

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