Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool and Real Madrid receive major transfer boost as midfield star ‘ready to go’
A glut of elite clubs drooling over Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi has given hope to recent claims that the Spain international is “ready”. leave his childhood club.
Zubimendi has been on the radar of Europe’s top teams since establishing himself as a regular in the Basque first team at the turn of the decade. Barcelona have long been admirers of the powerful midfielder, but the Catalans’ financial constraints ensure they are enough trouble with registration players they own, let alone find room in the budget for new recruits.
A trio of Premier League clubs – Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City – were most fruitfully connected with Zubimendi in recent windows. The Merseyside outfit came perilously close to snapping up the 25-year-old last summer, triggering his €60m (£50m) buyout clause only for scorned by death by the player himself.
Real Madrid have now entered the raceidentifying the scheming midfielder as the long-term successor to Toni Kroos.
Zubimendi may not have been ready to leave La Real last summer – citing the need to develop more as a player before embarking on a new challenge – but now he is not only open, but keen on a transfer, according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.
The journalist told BBC that Zubimendi is “ready to go”. While City have been named as an obvious suitor – Zubimendi is perhaps the most natural Rodri replacement on the planet, even coming on for his compatriot during the Euro 2024 final – Liverpool’s interest may have cooled.
Arne Slot repurposed Ryan Gravenberch into a successful midfielder this season, prompting Balague to speculate, “I don’t think Liverpool he’ll be back.”
Zubimendi offers a youthful replacement for ArsenalThomas Partey – whose contract expires in the summer – and Manchester United have even been mentioned as potential destinations.
The player may be ready, but his club are adamant that there will be no deal in January. Sporting director of Real Sociedad Roberto Olaba reliably predicted that the club will have “no fears” during the winter window regarding their prized midfielder. Whether Zubimendi will stay in San Sebastian after the summer is a completely different matter.
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