EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal to double Zubimendi's wages to beat Liverpool to €60m star

Steve Kay

Updated: 13 Mar 2024 16:57 CDT
4 min read

Arsenal are working on a wage package for Martin Zubimendi ahead of a potential summer move, FootballTransfers understands.

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We are told that the Gunners plan to offer the Real Sociedad midfielder a five-year contract and a salary of £115,000 (€135,000) per week, which will double the money he earns at his current club.

However, the north London club aren't the only side keen on the 25-year-old. FootballTransfers exclusively revealed in February that Liverpool are also keeping tabs on the Basque midfielder.

Indeed, Arsenal are expecting a number of clubs wanting to sign Zubimendi in the summer, which includes Bayern, Liverpool and Barcelona. Arsenal want to get an answer from Zubimendi's camp before they move on to other possible targets.

Despite spending lavishly last summer, Arsenal have no issue with paying Zubimendi's release clause, which currently stands at €60 million. Arsenal believe they will be in a very good financial situation by the summer.

Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson are looking more and more likely to be moving on in the upcoming window. All these sales would be pure profit, hence putting the Gunners in a healthy Financial Fair Play situation. Aaron Ramsdale could also depart the club.

Zubimendi a long-term target

Arsenal have been eyeing Martin Zubimendi for some time. The local boy has developed into a star player for boyhood club Real Sociedad in recent seasons and this hasn't gone unnoticed in the circles of Europe's elite.

Zubimendi helped Erreala qualify for the Champions League via LaLiga last season and they reached the knockouts for the first time in 20 years this term before crashing out against PSG in the round of 16.

The Basque midfielder, who hails from San Sebastian like Mikel Arteta, could be brought in to replace Jorginho or Thomas Partey. The former is out of contract in the summer, while the latter's future at Arsenal will depend on his fitness, as FootballTransfers exclusively revealed.