Arsenal receive massive double boost as Zubimendi REJECTS Liverpool

Tom Weber

Updated: 13 Aug 2024 10:53 BST
3 min read

Martin Zubimendi, Arsenal, Liverpool, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Martin Zubimendi has rejected the chance to join Liverpool, according to Spanish media.

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The Reds look to have missed out on their top midfield target. Despite Real Sociedad initially expecting Zubimendi to accept Liverpool's approaches, the 25-year-old has now decided to snub the Anfield club, according to Relevo.

Real Sociedad have been desperately trying to convince their star midfielder to remain with his boyhood club and it seems that they have been successful.

As the Spanish outlet reports, the player has done a complete U-turn. "At Liverpool, everything was ready for his arrival because the footballer...had given the go-ahead. The agreement was complete.

"The Reds were rubbing their hands with the signing of a player who was going to become a symbol of the institution, but ultimately, Martin Zubimendi has decided to continue at Real Sociedad, ignoring the siren songs from the Liverpool club."

Zubimendi has always been reluctant to leave his hometown side, even 'ghosting' Arsenal despite having an agreement with them ahead of the summer, as revealed by FootballTransfers.

Double boost for Arsenal

The news of Zubimendi rejecting Liverpool will be music to the ears of Arsenal. The Basque star had been considered Mikel Arteta's dream midfield target prior to his ignoring the Gunners and the coach will be delighted that he won't be moving to a different Premier League outfit.

Moreover, this means that Real Sociedad will be much more open to letting Mikel Merino go, with whom Arsenal have been in talks for weeks. Personal terms have already been agreed, as exclusively revealed by FootballTransfers, but a club-to-club deal has still not been struck.

Erreala know that Merino is keen on the move but they wanted to avoid a situation in which two of their midfield dynamos departed in the same summer. With Zubimendi now set to stay, the road to north London is clear for Merino.