Arsenal favourites to land LaLiga hotshot as Barcelona's financial problems bite

Tom Hancock

Updated: 23 May 2023 08:37 CDT
3 min read

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, 2022/23 — © ProShots

Arsenal appear to have been handed the initiative in the race to sign Martin Zubimendi, with Barcelona unable to afford Real Sociedad’s valuation of their midfield star.

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The Gunners have been increasingly strongly linked with a move for the 24-year-old as Mikel Arteta and co. prepare to strengthen their squad in readiness for the club’s return to the Champions League next season.

Barca were also said to be keen on Zubimendi, but the LaLiga champions elect appear to have their hands tied by the ongoing financial struggles which have disrupted their transfer plans over the last couple of campaigns.

Mundo Deportivo are claiming that Barca don’t have the funds to be able to pay Zubimendi’s €59.5m release clause.

That news follows a report by AS earlier this week which stated that Arsenal are ‘very close’ to agreeing terms with the Real Sociedad academy graduate – who made his first-team debut for the Basque club back in 2019.

Zubimendi has made 39 appearances for Real Sociedad in all competitions this season, helping Imanol Alguacil’s side close in on Champions League qualification.

© ProShots - Zubimendi has made over 100 appearances for Real Sociedad

'A quiet summer' ahead for Zubimendi?

With his fine performances throughout 2022/23, Zubimendi has seen his stock skyrocket – with Spanish football expert Terry Gibson describing him as “a super player” who Real Madrid may also be interested in.

But Zubimendi – who won his sole cap for Spain to date in 2021 – himself did recently play down talk of an exit from his hometown club, explaining in March:

“Here, I am very happy; I look forward to a quiet summer. When someone wants to be at a club, the [release] clause doesn’t matter.”