Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Martín Zubimendi from Real Sociedad after agreeing to pay the £51m release clause for the Spain midfielder.
Zubimendi, who turned down a move to Liverpool last summer and has also been linked with Real Madrid in recent weeks, is understood to be set for a medical having finalised personal terms for his move to the Premier League. His signing would be a major boost for Mikel Arteta, who made the 26-year-old his primary midfield target this summer as Arsenal attempt to bridge the gap after three successive runners-up finishes in the Premier League.
Despite working on a deal to sign him for several months, reports in Spain had suggested that Zubimendi was wanted by the new Real Madrid manager, Xabi Alonso, who coached him when he was in charge of Sociedad’s reserve side. But it appears that he will join Mikel Merino – who left Sociedad for around £32m last summer – in north London next season. Negotiations over the structure of payments for his release clause are believed to have been resolved, with Arsenal confident of announcing Zubimendi as their first signing since the appointment of Andrea Berta as the club’s new sporting director.
Jason Ayto, who served in an interim capacity after the surprise departure of Edu to Nottingham Forest in November, is also set to leave the Emirates Stadium having reverted back to his role as assistant sporting director on Berta’s arrival. The Italian is understood to have held talks with representatives of Nico Williams in one of his first acts after being appointed at the end of March, with the Spain forward, who has a release clause of £58m, one of several attacking options on Arsenal’s radar.
Signing a new centre-forward is the next priority, with Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig and Sporting’s Viktor Gyökeres the two preferred targets. Arsenal decided against a move for the Slovenia forward Sesko last summer but the 21-year-old said this week that he wants to “play for a club that suits me, that brings out the best in me”.
Arsenal are also in talks about extending the contracts of several key players this summer, with Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães all about to enter the final two years of their current deals. Leandro Trossard is also believed to be close to agreeing a new contract, while discussions are ongoing with the breakthrough academy stars Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri.
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Arteta said last week that he is hopeful Thomas Partey will also stay at the Emirates. The Ghana midfielder is out of contract at the end of June but is expected to sign an extension that could mean he must compete with Zubimendi for a starting spot next season after the departure of Jorginho, who is expected to join Brazilian side Flamengo.
