Arsenal target Martin Zubimendi has reportedly shown no interest in leaving his current club Real Sociedad which is complicating a deal for the midfielder.
Martin Zubimendi Happy to Stay at Real Sociedad
A Long-Term Arsenal Target
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been an admirer of Zubimendi for a long time and was eager to bring the Spaniard to the Emirates. He even made attempts to convince him last season. But the player was reluctant to leave as he wanted to play in the Champions League with his boyhood club Real Sociedad.
As per a report from The Athletic, Arsenal remain very interested in him. The midfielder has a £51 million release clause, triggering this isn’t a problem for Arsenal. But the player hasn’t shown any interest in leaving the Basque region. The Gunners have thus found it difficult to strike a deal for him.
The 25-year-old plays as a deep-lying playmaker and has often been compared to Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets. He is adept at controlling the tempo of the game, is highly press-resistant and thus would be a perfect replacement for the ageing Jorginho at North London.
Former Real Madrid star Xabi Alonso, who coached Zubimendi at Real Sociedad B, has spoken highly of the youngster. Alonso said: “Martin’s a player all coaches would want. He’s generous, he always thinks more about his teammates than himself. He understands what the next step is before the ball gets to him. I loved working with him.”
Who Are the Alternative Targets for Arsenal?
Apart from the Spaniard, Arsenal have monitored Amadou Onana, Bruno Guimaraes, and Douglas Luiz. Of these three, Amadou Onana will be the easier deal. Everton have been struggling to comply with the Profit and Sustainability Rules and thus might be willing to part with Onana.
Guimaraes has a release clause of £100 million which will expire after June 24. The Londoners are not willing to pay the fee and are hoping to negotiate a lower fee. Aston Villa don’t need to sell Luiz as their coffers will be filled next season with Champions League revenue. Hence, a deal for him might also be out of the question.
As per the Athletic report, the Gunners are also monitoring Benfica’s Joao Neves.
