Arsenal and Liverpool have finally learned which club Martin Zubimendi intends to sign for next season – and with the two players he is at risk of forcing out also coming to light.
The Reds came within a whisker of making Zubimendi the first signing of the Slot era at Anfield over the summer after they triggered the €60m (£50.7m, $62.1m) exit clause in his contract and then agreed personal terms with the player. However, a late change of heart saw the midfielder opt out of the move to Liverpool, deciding instead to remain with his hometown club, for whom he has a deep-rooted love.
In the weeks and months that have followed, speculation around Zubimendi’s future has not been far from the news and amid claims that the player regrets his decision to snub Slot – an allegation the player since went on to play down.
Fast-forward to January 14 and the Daily Mail then broke the news that Zubimendi was indeed ready to move to England, though it was Arsenal who had now got an agreement ‘virtually completed’.
And while the Spanish press, together with Fabrizio Romano have moved to play down these claims, coupled with claims that Liverpool could yet launch a fresh bid to hijack the deal, journalist James Benge has now revealed that Zubimendi has now said yes to a move to the Gunners and is ‘extremely likely’ to move to Emirates Stadium this summer.
