Arsenal close on £51million transfer as Mikel Arteta finally gets breakthrough
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Arsenal have seemingly won the race for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi - but he may not join the Gunners until NEXT season. Zubimendi, 25, has long been courted by a slew of Europe's elite, including several top Premier League clubs. And it's widely known that he has been a long-term target for Arsenal, who tried to sign the Spaniard last year.
Liverpool tried to get a deal done for the playmaker in the summer, only for the Euro 2024 winner to have a late change of heart. But Zubimendi is now poised to seal a blockbuster move to the Premier League. Talks over a summer move to Arsenal are now at an advanced stage with the player ready to move on from Sociedad. Zubimendi is known to have a £51million release clause written into his contract which the Londoners are now poised to trigger.
THE FA CUP GIANT KILLERS: Get your special edition magazine celebrating some of the game's greatest-ever upsets. But while the Gunners would like the player to join them in the January transfer window, Sociedad are adamant that Zubimendi must stay in Spain and see the season out, as first revealed by The Mail.
Arsenal don't have the wriggle room when it comes to Premier League PSR rules to pay Zubimendi's buyout clause to La Liga up front right now. Thus they are continuing to negotiate the exact payment terms with La Real - hence why a deal is expected to be delayed until the summer. Without the Basque side's help or willing, Arsenal cannot get it over the line right now.
