'Exiting' Arsenal star makes it very clear what he thinks of Mikel Arteta's transfer plan
Share:
Kieran Tierney has backed Mikel Arteta’s decision to buy Martin Zubimendi, with the Arsenal left-back calling the Real Sociedad star “world class”. Arsenal have been interested in signing Zubimendi for over a year as a long-term replacement for Thomas Partey. After both they and rivals Liverpool missed out on the 25-year-old last summer, The Mail report that the Gunners have now won the race for the Basque midfielder's signature.
It is claimed that Arsenal, even without the help of departed sporting director Edu Gaspar, have focused all of their attention on getting a deal in place for Zubimendi - who is believed to have a £51million release clause in his contract. While they would have liked for the highly-rated central midfielder to join their ranks immediately, Real Sociedad - who Arteta, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and Tierney have all played for previously - insisted on keeping him until the end of the season.
It will come as a boost given that Manchester City were also interested in signing Zubimendi after Rodri suffered a season-ending injury. And Tierney sang the playmaker’s praises while he was on loan in Spain last season. The Scot, who is expected to leave the Gunners on a free transfer at the end of the season, told The Guardian in February 2024: "You have world-class players [at Real Sociedad] like Zubimendi, Merino, Brais [Méndez]. It’s not that people don’t think they’re good; it’s just that if you’re only watching the Premier League every week, it’s hard to know. They’re world class, and for so many to come from the academy is incredible.”.
