Arsenal laid the foundations for this summer’s arrival of Martín Zubimendi 12 months ago, outmanoeuvring Liverpool to poach the Spanish midfielder with what Mikel Arteta proudly hailed as a “really well-orchestrated plan”.
Liverpool reportedly triggered Zubimendi’s affordable £60 million ($81.3 million) release clause in 2024 only to be rejected by the player. That same summer, Arsenal bought his Real Sociedad teammate Mikel Merino and, as has now been revealed, greased the wheels for Zubimendi’s arrival.
