Barcelona will not launch the offensive to sign Martin Zubimendi, whose market value is €40 million, with Arsenal closing in on signing him.
According to a report by Spanish outlet AS, Martin Zubimendi no longer features on Barcelona’s radar. The Catalan giants have cooled their interest in the Spanish international due to his high price tag. And the Real Sociedad midfielder is closing in on joining Arsenal in the summer transfer window.
Martin Zubimendi spent most of his formative years with Real Sociedad after joining the Basque club in 2011. And after grafting in the reserve team for a few years, he made his first-team debut in April 2019. Since then, he has come leaps and bounds at the Reale Arena.
The 24-year-old has also established a foothold in the Spanish national squad, although he has turned out only once for La Roja. Meanwhile, the player has made 138 appearances for Real Sociedad, chipping in with four goals and five assists. Meanwhile, his market value has risen to €40 million. And Zubimendi’s progress has not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona and Arsenal setting their sights on him.
Barcelona initially viewed the Spaniard as the priority target to succeed Busquets in the long run. The veteran midfielder is approaching the end of his illustrious career and will leave the Blaugrana soon. But Zubimendi’s release clause, worth €60 million, does not fit Barcelona’s budget. And the Catalan giants are not willing to shell out the sum to secure his services.
The report from AS claims that Barcelona will walk away from a deal for the 24-year-old. Such a situation will boost Arsenal’s chances of signing the Real Sociedad midfielder this summer. But the Spanish publication has revealed that the player is closing in on joining the Gunners anyway.
Mikel Arteta wants to beef up his squad in the summer transfer window as he prepares to take Arsenal to the UEFA Champions League. The Gunners thus need to raise the performance levels in the 2023/24 season. And Zubimendi has emerged as a viable target for Arsenal.
It will be interesting to see if the Spanish international indeed joins Arsenal in the summer transfer window. For now, Zubimendi is no longer a target for Barcelona, with the Catalan giants setting their sights on alternatives like Guido Rodriguez and Sofyan Amrabat.
