Barcelona will make a fresh attempt to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi this summer after Arsenal failed with a £53million transfer bid.
Zubimendi, 24, has a £53million (€60m) release clause in his contract at the Basque club and has no shortage of admirers both in La Liga and the Premier League. A product of Real Sociedad’s youth system, he has made 138 first-team appearances for the club.
Barca boss Xavi Hernandez is intent on buying a new holding midfielder to replace the outgoing Sergio Busquets, who is pulling the curtain on his glorious career at the Camp Nou this summer. The club do not have a natural replacement for him in their ranks.
Frenkie de Jong was signed as a Busquets successor in 2019 but the Dutchman has shown his skillset is a different profile – much more accustomed to slaloming his way past opponents in midfield and breaking into space, rather than sitting deep. Pedri and Gavi are also at home in more advanced positions.
Arsenal also have an interest in Zubimendi with Granit Xhaka expected to depart this summer with the centre of midfield a key position for Mikel Arterta to strengthen. They are likely to sign at least one player in the position this year.
Earlier this year, a report from Spanish radio station Cadena Ser claims that Arsenal had lodged an offer for Zubimendi that could have triggered his release clause at the Basque club. However, the player had no interest in leaving in the middle of the season.
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The Catalan radio branch of Cadena Ser, as cited by Diario AS, have now claimed that Barca have also relaunched their interest in the player. Due to their precarious financial position, they are willing to offer players in exchange for Zubimendi – but it is believed the player wants to stay and play in the Champions League next campaign with his hometown club.
Xavi told reporters back in January: "He (Zubimendi) is a more physical and faster player than Busquets, who is technically better. But not only Zubimendi, all of Real Sociedad’s midfield players. We are playing a great team and Zubimendi is a great footballer."
The Barca boss continued in an admittance that that position was a priority for Barca: "We work in the same way in grassroots football. But La Real works very well with the academy. We lack a defensive pivot who is the future replacement for Busquets."
