For more than a year now, Real Sociedad star defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi has been the hottest name at the position, wanted by clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, and even LaLiga top-four rivals Barcelona on the transfer market.
But now, the other giants of LaLiga have joined in with serious interest in Zubimendi, as Real Madrid have taken stock of their club’s issues in the post-Toni Kroos landscape and correctly view a lack of control as one of their biggest weaknesses.
Without Kroos, Real Madrid have not had control in most of their meaningful matches, which have featured disappointing results to the likes of Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, and Liverpool this season.
Well, Real Madrid see Zubimendi as the best available deep-lying midfielder with controlling capabilities, and their interest means bad news for future Champions League quarterfinal opponents Arsenal, who previously wanted to pair Zubi with former Real Sociedad teammate Mikel Merino and England international Declan Rice.
According to a report from Spanish outlet COPE, via the Madrid Zone, Real Madrid have now pulled ahead of Arsenal in the battle to sign the 26-year-old star midfielder from Real Sociedad.
Zubimendi has become a priority transfer target for Los Blancos, and COPE say that the Merengues are now “accelerating” their interest in the world-class No. 6, who could take over for Aurelien Tchouameni as the main man at the pivot.
That could lead to Tchouameni leaving for Liverpool, as has been rumored, but there is also plenty of room for both Tchouameni and Zubimendi to coexist together at a demanding position in a grueling world football schedule with more major tournaments set to be added like the new Club World Cup format.
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.