Arsenal report: Superstar midfielder on verge of accepting agreement for summer move

By
published

Arsenal could be about to sign the midfielder of their dreams, with the summer window starting now at the Emirates Stadium

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta before the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on January 20, 2024 in London, England.
(Image credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal are closing in on a pre-agreement for a new midfield superstar ahead of a summer move.

The Gunners are hampered by financial restrictions, having spent around £200 million last summer, smashing their transfer record for England international Declan Rice. The free-spending has left Mikel Arteta with very little cash to play with this winter, as he finds his side five points off leaders Liverpool in the league. 

But work on the squad next season has already begun, with Brentford goalkeeper David Raya set to join permanently following his loan spell this season. Now, the north Londoners have set aside more of their summer budget for another star.

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya celebrates after Bukayo Saka scored their sides first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2023 in London, England.

David Raya is joining permanently this summer (Image credit: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

According to AS in Spain, Martin Zubimendi is on the verge of agreeing a move to the Emirates Stadium. The Real Sociedad man will reportedly remain in San Sebastian for the rest of the current campaign before linking up with his new side in the summer, when the move will go through due to Premier League PRS restrictions. 

AS are far from the only Spanish outlet claiming this deal is close, too. Mundo Deportivo recently declared that Arteta was "ready" to meet the €60 million release clause, while todofichajes.com said that Arsenal would beat Barcelona to the move, with the 25-year-old favouring partnering Rice in midfield over replacing Sergio Busquets. 

This deal could well have been a year in the making, too. As explained by FourFourTwo earlier this season, Kieran Tierney could well have been used as a "sweetener" for any move that saw Zubimendi trade La Liga for the Premier League, with the Scottish full-back going on loan to La Real ahead of bigger-name suitors last summer. 

Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad during the La Liga match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Sociedad played at Civitas Metropolitano Stadium on October 8 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Cesar Cebolla / Pressinphoto / Icon Sport)

Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad could be heading to Arsenal soon (Image credit: Getty Images)

it is possible, however, that Zubimendi could reject Arsenal, having done so last winter. Recent reports have claimed that the Basque schemer is still undecided as to whether he wants to depart the Anoeta Stadium.  

Zubimendi is valued at €50m by Transfermarkt. 

More Arsenal stories

Arsenal lining up Brazilian hitman as surprise new striker - in move that will unsettle rivals ahead of clash: report

Arsenal offered incredible chance to sign Karim Benzema as leading suitor named: report

How Arsenal could make £30m - thanks to beating Crystal Palace 5-0

Mark White
Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.