Arsenal eye €110m LaLiga duo ahead of summer transfer overhaul

Robin Bairner

• 20 Apr 2023 12:13 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal are closely monitoring Real Sociedad pair Martin Zubimendi and Robin Le Normand with a view to strengthening their squad in the summer transfer window.

The Gunners have surpassed all expectations this season as they lead the Premier League, and though their advantage has been trimmed by Manchester City to just four points, Mikel Arteta’s side look good to finish in the top two, meaning a return to the Champions League.

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Plans are already afoot to strengthen the squad, with West Ham’s Declan Rice seen as their strongest option in the midfield.

However, Rice will not be an easy target for Arsenal, even if he does see the Emirates side as his ideal destination. The Hammers’ asking price is set to be large for the England midfield and there is a sense that better value will be available elsewhere.

Arsenal want Real Sociedad pair

Arsenal are presently monitoring Real Sociedad’s Zubimendi, according to Fabrizio Romano.

He fits into the type of holding midfielder that Arteta wants to add to his side, with the 24-year-old particularly strong in terms of his positioning and his ball retention.

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FootballTransfers, however, understands that the Gunners see Brighton’s Moises Caicedo as a more realistic alternative to Rice – and the player that Arteta has prioritised this summer.

In part, this is because Zubimendi, who has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €42 million but has a release clause of €60m, has committed his future to Real Sociedad.

“Leaving Real Sociedad behind with the season that we’re having would be illogical. I’m very happy here,” he told Sport. “I’m expecting a calm summer. “Beyond the release clause, when someone wants to be at a club, the clause doesn’t matter.”

Le Normand, meanwhile, is a 26-year-old centre-back with strong technical attributes.

Romano reports that if he were to leave Sociedad, it would be for his €50m release clause.

With Arsenal short of central defensive depth – as highlighted during William Saliba’s injury absence – it would be little surprise to see the Gunners move for this style of defender.