‘Arsenal take new Martin Zubimendi route to boost striker transfer hopes’
Arsenal are operating a new plan as they look to complete the signing of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi alongside a desperately-needed new striker.
The Gunners are preparing for a busy summer in the transfer market, as they look to put together a squad capable of ending their trophy drought next season.
While Thomas Partey may yet sign a new contract at Arsenal, it looks as though Jorginho will be leaving the club this summer when his contract expires.
As a result, a new midfielder is one signing that Mikel Arteta will want to see before the start of the new campaign, and it appears they are closing in on agreeing such a deal.
Martin Zubimendi payment plan emerges
In the lead-up to the summer transfer window, Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move to sign Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.
Even so, he is not the only signing that the Gunners will need to sign if they are to have a chance of lifting silverware in the coming campaign.
Arsenal will need to sign a goalscorer this summer, having lacked a consistent presence up top amid the injury-enforced absences of the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz in recent months.
According to a report from The Athletic, the North London club will not simply pay Zubimendi’s €60million [£50.3m] release clause in his contract with Real Sociedad.
| Position | Played | Points |
| 1. Liverpool | 36 | 83 |
| 2. Arseal | 36 | 68 |
While that approach is one they took when signing Partey from another La Liga side, Atletico Madrid, this time they are said to instead be directly negotiating a deal for Zubimendi.
That way Arsenal hope to be able to agree a payment schedule with Sociedad that would see that fee spread out over a longer period, rather than dropping it in one.
In doing so, the Gunners will ensure they do not pay as much for the midfielder this summer, meaning they will have more funds to invest on that all important striker signing.
Arsenal taking sensible approach in Real Sociedad negotiations
Football Insider Verdict
There have been numerous occasions this season where Arsenal have not had the goalscorer they needed to finish the chances they created that would have turned draws into wins.
Bringing in a striker is therefore surely more important than any other signing they make this summer, in order to ensure that story is a different one next time around.
With that in mind it makes a lot of sense for them to negotiate a deal for a midfielder in Zubimendi that ensures they pay less up front.
If they manage to do that, it does obviously leave more money in the budget for other deals, such as bringing that all-important striking addition.
It will be something that also proves Arsenal can operate efficiently in the market, further adding to the confidence around the Emirates Stadium going into the new season.
Beyond that, proper negotiations may help them do further important business with Sociedad in the future, meaning this feels like the right way for the Gunners to go about things.