Arsenal and Liverpool are heavily interested in a move for Martin Zubimendi ahead of the January window, as convincing the midfielder will be challenging.
According to Caught Offside, Arsenal and Liverpool could battle it out in January for the signature of Martin Zubimendi. Manchester City are also interested in the in-demand midfielder, as convincing the Real Sociedad star to leave his current surroundings will be a bigger challenge than paying his asking price.
Liverpool were ready to trigger Martin Zubimendi’s £50 million-rated release clause back in the summer, but the midfielder rejected their approach. There were no suggestions that he did not like their proposal. Instead, he felt loyal to Real Sociedad, which would be the biggest challenge suitors would face ahead of the January window.
Should Zubimendi continue to show loyalty towards Sociedad, big Premier League suitors will find it impossible to sign him. However, consistent media reporting has suggested the midfielder could be up for grabs in January if clubs can pay the £50 million-rated star’s release clause.
Manchester City are interested in Zubimendi following Rodri’s season-ending injury, as Pep Guardiola views him as the perfect replacement. The problem is that once the latter returns to fitness, there will be doubts about Zubimendi’s starting spot, something that may not happen at the likes of Liverpool or Arsenal.
Despite the summer rejection, Liverpool are still interested, and they may have received renewed optimism to pursue the midfielder once again. The Reds have found themselves in a fantastic position both in the Premier League and Champions League, as signing a player like Zubimendi would cement their title credentials ahead of the second part of the season.
Arsenal to rival Liverpool in Zubimendi chase
Unlike Liverpool, Arsenal do not lack the presence of a defensive midfielder in their squad, as Mikel Arteta has at least three or four players who could play there, including Zubimendi’s former Sociedad teammate Mikel Merino. The Gunners are interested in the Spaniard as they want him to replace one of Thomas Partey and Jorginho in the future, as the duo have expiring contracts to deal with.
Arsenal, Liverpool, or Manchester City could be good enough options for Zubimendi if he decides to leave Sociedad in January. However, convincing the midfielder to do so remains the challenging bit in this case, as clubs could find that he’s still loyal to the La Liga side and refuses to leave them in the winter window.
