Arsenal have won the race to sign Martin Zubimendi after the Daily Mail’s Sami Mokbel revealed an agreement has virtually been closed with Real Sociedad to bring the Liverpool target to Emirates Stadium, with the timeline of the deal and the costs involved also coming to light.
The Spain star was followed closely by Liverpool last summer as the Reds looked to make the Real Sociedad man the first signing of the Arne Slot era on Merseyside. But despite agreeing to activate his €60m (£51m) exit clause and having agreed personal terms with the player over the switch, an 11th-hour change of heart saw the move break down.
However, with Zubimendi then remaining with his hometown club for the season, speculation over his future has risen once again in recent weeks amid claims he remains on the Reds’ radar, while also coming under surveillance from Manchester City as they look to replace ACL-injury victim Rodri.
He writes that Arsenal have moved to trigger his £51m exit clause, and with negotiations now at an advanced stage, sources have indicated that the deal is virtually completed.
He claims that Gunners boss Mikel Arteta had wanted the move for Zubimendi done now but has been forced to put the move on the backburner with Sociedad chiefs making it clear to the player that, while they would not, or could not, stand in his way, their preference would be for the move to go through at the season’s end. As a result, Zubimendi has agreed to honour that wish.
