Chelsea want to acquire the services of 24-year-old Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi amid interest from Barcelona.
According to a report by Fichajes, Chelsea are keen on having a new defensive midfielder in their ranks before the start of next season. So they have their eyes set on Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, a target for Barcelona. The Spanish international has a €60 million release clause in his contract.
The 24-year-old has made quite a name for himself with impressive performances over the past 12 months, and he has been on the radar of Barcelona for a while now. The Catalan giants consider him to be an important transfer target as they look to replace Sergio Busquets.
While they have acquired the services of Oriol Romeu, he can only be a short-term fix. and they need a younger option for the long run. As a result, they want to acquire the services of Zubimendi who has a €60 million release clause in his contract.
But, with Barcelona struggling financially, they cannot afford to push for the signatures of the 24-year-old at this point in time. The Spain international was all set to continue at Real Sociedad for another season. But, the situation has changed of late because of interest from Premier League club Chelsea.
With the departure of N’Golo Kante, the Blues are looking to sign a new defensive midfielder. And, their priority is to acquire the services of Brighton & Hove Albion star Moises Caicedo. But, the situation is a touch complicated, as Chelsea are not ready to meet the Seagulls’ valuation.
While they are still working on a deal to land the 21-year-old midfielder, the Blues have identified Zubimendi as an alternative. And, Chelsea are ready to trigger his €60 million release clause if they fail to land Caicedo at the club.
The 24-year-old midfielder was one of the main reasons for Real Sociedad’s heroics last season. He helped them finish inside the top four and qualify for the UEFA Champions League. The Spain international featured in a total of 44 matches in all competitions and was on the pitch for over 3,700 minutes.
His exception form suggests that he could be a great addition to the Blues rank. And, he is a much cheaper option than the 21-year-old Ecuadorian international. It will be interesting to see if a €60 million move to Chelsea sees the light of day for Zubimendi.
