Real Madrid plan to make their ‘first formal contact’ for Martin Zubimendi on Tuesday, with a Spanish report revealing what Los Blancos want to know after being made aware that Arsenal are keen on taking the Real Sociedad midfielder to the Emirates Stadium.
Zubimendi is one of the best midfielders in LaLiga and has been on the books of Sociedad since 2011. After coming through LaReal’s youth academy, he established himself in the first team and has played 227 matches in all competitions for the Basque club, scoring 10 goals and providing nine assists in the process. Zubimendi has been part of the Spain squad since 2021 and won Euro 2024 with La Roja.
The 26-year-old was close to a move to Liverpool last summer, but he had a late change of heart and decided to stay at Sociedad.
Although we understand that Liverpool are not planning to make a renewed attempt to sign the midfielder, TEAMtalk contributor Ben Jacobs reported on February 19 that “a broad set of personal terms have been verbally agreed upon in terms of wage and bonus structure” between Zubimendi and Arsenal, who are ready to trigger the €60million (£51m, $62m) release clause in his contract with Sociedad.
The Daily Mail reported on January 14 that talks over signing Zubimendi were ‘at an advanced stage’, adding that ‘the deal is virtually completed’ for Arsenal to secure his services in the summer transfer window.
However, Madrid are not giving up, with a report in Spain now revealing that the defending Spanish and European champions plan to hold talks with Sociedad over the midfielder on Tuesday.
Madrid will take on LaLiga rivals Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final tie on Tuesday evening.
Los Blancos, who won the first leg 1-0, will ‘take the opportunity to ask about Martín Zubimendi’, according to DefensaCentral.
The report has noted that ‘the match between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad is a golden opportunity to secure a signing highly coveted by the club’s sporting directors and Carlo Ancelotti himself’.
Madrid are aware that Arsenal are keen on signing Zubimendi in the summer transfer window and want to move to quickly for the Spain international.