Arsenal have been pursuing Real Sociedad center midfielder Martin Zubimendi for over a year now, and even after signing teammate Mikel Merino last summer from La Real, the Gunners still remain very much interested in the talented 26-year-old Spanish international.
However, recent interest from Real Madrid has threatened to complicate things, as Madrid are the biggest club in Spanish football and have a big need for a midfield regista who can cover defensively while controlling and dictating play in possession.
Despite the recent rumors linking Zubimendi to Real Madrid, it seems like Arsenal are still the favorites to ultimately land the most coveted No. 6 in European football.
According to a report from Sky Sports’s Dharmesh Sheth, via afcstuff, a Zubimendi transfer to Arsenal will “almost definitely” take place, and Sheth believes it’s because Mikel Arteta and Arsenal have the inside track to sign him.
Sheth cites last summer window as evidence. Zubimendi was reportedly close to joining Premier League title rivals Liverpool but ultimately changed his mind at the last second because of intervention from Arteta and Arsenal.
The Gunners have been recruiting Zubimendi very hard over the past several months – harder than any other team. Now, a club like Real Madrid can always change that, and perhaps Arteta’s former Real Sociedad midfield partner Xabi Alonso could change that if he becomes the Royal Whites’ coach.
In the same way that Arsenal convinced Zubimendi to not pick Liverpool at the last second, Alonso could repeat Arsenal’s trick in favor of Real Madrid. Only time will tell what will happen, but it’s interesting to note that the top insiders in England firmly believe Zubimendi is the Gunners’ to lose.
Joe Soriano covers West Ham for Green Street Hammers and writes about Real Madrid for The Real Champs. He has extensive experience covering world football since 2014. Joe is an editor for The Trivela Effect, where he covers the biggest clubs in European football. He has watched professional sports regularly since 2002 and can be found playing the same sports he covers with his friends.