Arsenal Agrees A Deal To Sign Martin Zubimendi From Real Sociedad This Summer.

Martin Zubimendi has verbally reached an agreement to join Arsenal at the end of the season.

Manager Mikel Arteta and his side on their way to completing their first deal of the summer and having targeted Zubimendi since January, it looks as if they are set to bring a priority target to North London.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed that Gunners have reached a verbal agreement with the Spain international to sign a long-term deal, and are said to have informed Real Sociedad of their intention to activate his €60m release clause soon.

The move comes at a good time for Arsenal as they find themselves in need of at least one new midfielder ahead of next season.

Jorginho is set to depart for Flamengo upon the expiry of his contract and talks over a new deal for Thomas Partey are ongoing

The Gunners have endured a disappointing season and remain without a trophy since 2020. 

They have sat second in the Premier League table for the majority of the campaign, but even that is now in jeopardy.

They were also knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round by Man United, losing 5-3 via penalties at the Emirates. They were hammered by Newcastle 2-0 in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.

The Gunners saw their only hope of a major trophy this season vanish on Wednesday night at the Parc Des Princes following a 3-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain across the two Champions League semi-final games. 

Zubimendi rejected a move to Liverpool last summer in favour of remaining with his boyhood club, but just nine months after, he now looks set to come up against the Merseyside team if Arsenal gets the deal over the line.

Arne Slot wanted to make the Spaniard his first signing as Reds head coach after the defensive midfielder's impressive performances during Spain's Euro 2024 triumph last summer.

Edu and Jason Ayto are said to have been the driving forces behind the move, but he will become the first signing under new sporting director Andrea Berta.

Zubimendi has been an important part of Real Sociedad’s setup as well as a key player for Spain.

He would be following in the footsteps of Mikel Merino who made the move from the Basque Country to north London last summer.

Arsenal have picked up just only six points from their last five games all while Man City are on four-game winning streak.

City could have moved level on points with second-placed Arsenal with a win on Saturday afternoon, but served up a dismal attacking display a week before their FA Cup final against Crystal Palace.

They failed to beat an already relegated Southampton with the game ending 1-1 at the St. Mary's stadium.

The Saints are now up to 12 points which makes them the second worst team in premier league history, as Derby County's record low from the 2007-08 season remains intact for at least another year.

Arsenal take on champions Liverpool on Sunday, and now have the chance move further in the race to securing Champions League football for next season if they win.

The Gunners then host Newcastle before ending the season at St Mary's Stadium.

Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are other players who have all been strongly linked to Arsenal, but the latter looks to be the favoured signing with claims in Portugal going as far as saying a bid is on the table.

The Gunners have made their first formal offer for Gyokeres, which is reportedly worth £63.4 million (€75 million), as reported on the front page of Saturday's Correio da Manha. A personal terms agreement has already been struck.