Arteta stunned as key Arsenal target RULED OUT of summer transfer

Tom Weber

Updated: 13 May 2024 18:05 BST
3 min read

Martin Zubimendi won't be on the move this summer, according to his coach.

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The Real Sociedad star is one of Europe's most in-demand midfielders. Attainable - for most big clubs at least - due to his €60 million release clause, the 25-year-old has long since been linked with a summer exit.

In fact, Arsenal have been tracking Zubimendi for over a year and are his most prominent suitors. Mikel Arteta is said to be infatuated with his fellow Basque, who also hails from San Sebastian just like the Gunners boss.

FootballTransfers has been exclusively reporting on Arsenal's interest for some time, most recently revealing that the north London giants had prepared a contract offer for the midfielder to test the waters and gauge his interest in potentially heading to England this summer.

Zubimendi, however, seems to have little desire to depart his boyhood club.

Zubimendi going nowhere

The player himself stated this last month when he asserted that he has no intention of leaving but that he would move if Real Sociedad signalled that they want to sell him on. This evidently won't be the case anytime soon, though.

At least that's according to his coach Imanol Alguacil who is very bullish indeed about Erreala's chances of keeping one of their many hometown heroes. “Martin Zubimendi wants to stay here and for sure he will stay with us at Real Sociedad next season."

"I have no doubts, he’s staying with us. There are rumours about him from other teams as well because he is a great player and this year he was in the Champions League. There is a lot of talk about him and I understand that this is good for the club and for him.”

In addition to Arsenal, Barcelona and Bayern Munich have also been linked with Zubimendi, but the former can't afford him while the latter would only have actively pursued him had they managed to land Xabi Alonso. FootballTransfers understands that Liverpool also admire the midfielder.