Arsenal alerted as Barcelona move on from Xavi's 'dream signing'
Tom Weber
- Updated: 8 Dec 2023 11:33 GMT
- 3 min read
Barcelona's interest in Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi is beginning to cool, according to Spanish media.
The Erreala midfielder has enjoyed a couple of very impressive campaigns. After helping his side qualify for the Champions League last term, Zubimendi is once again starring in the middle of the park and the Basque outfit have comfortably qualified for the competition's knockouts already.
The 24-year-old's performances have not gone unnoticed and Arsenal were looking at him as a potential option in January 2023 and again in the summer. In fact, despite signing Declan Rice for a club-record fee in the previous transfer window, the Gunners want to add another star midfielder in 2024.
Most prominently linked with Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz, Arsenal will make an attempt for the Brazilian in January, but a deal appears nigh on impossible given his steep price tag. Zubimendi could be a viable alternative given that his release clause stands at €60 million, but whether the local hero would leave his boyhood club in the midst of a historic Champions League campaign is doubtful.
Indeed, Zubimendi's unwillingness to depart Real Sociedad has now led to one of his biggest suitors ending their pursuit.
Barca give up
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona's interest in the Basque is rapidly cooling as a transfer just does not appear possible. For one, the cash-strapped Catalans can't afford to trigger his release clause.
Then there is the fairly simple issue that Zubimendi has thus far flat-out ignored Barcelona's advances. Finally, Barcelona have no intention to do business with LaLiga clubs that have called for the Blaugrana to be persecuted over the Negreira match-fixing scandal.
All of this means that Barcelona are set to disappoint head coach Xavi who is said to be infatuated with Zubimendi and who had already wanted to make him Sergio Busquets' long-term successor in the summer. The Blaugrana will instead look to the likes of Youssouf Fofana and Amadou Onana to solve their holding midfield issues.
