Romano provides major update on €60m Arsenal summer target

Tom Weber

• Updated: 7 Feb 2024 15:51 GMT
• 3 min read

Fabrizio Romano has reiterated Arsenal's interest in Martin Zubimendi but insists that the reports of the Gunners already 'laying the groundwork' for a transfer are wide off the mark.

Martin Zubimendi is a player Mikel Arteta is reportedly infatuated with. Born in San Sebastian, like the Arsenal boss, Zubimendi suits up for his boyhood club Real Sociedad, just as Arteta once did. It is not hard to see why the Gunners head coach has fallen for a player who is as classy a midfielder as he himself once was.

The 24-year-old has really burst onto the scene in recent seasons and established himself as one of Europe's most sought-after commodities, with Arsenal already hot on his trail in January 2023 and the following summer. A move did not materialise because the Basque has thus far shown no inclination to leave Erreala, whom he helped to reach the Champions League knockouts this term.

Nevertheless, this could be his final season in LaLiga. Arsenal are once again keen on securing his signature and they are far from the only ones.

What did Romano say?

Recent reports have claimed that Arsenal are already 'laying the groundwork' for a potential summer move for the midfielder, who has a €60 million release clause in his Real Sociedad deal. Fabrizio Romano, however, has now dismissed these rumours.

“Martin Zubimendi is on Arsenal, Barcelona and Bayern list for the summer," the Italian told CaughtOffside. “At the moment, there is nothing more than this as Zubimendi only wants to focus on Real Sociedad and he loves his club."

"He is fully focused on La Liga and the Champions League, with no distraction at all. It will take time, there is nothing for February or March, despite some talk that Arsenal have already been ‘laying the groundwork’ for this deal.”