Arsenal is showing significant interest in acquiring Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad this summer. The Gunners are pushing to sign the Real Sociedad midfielder who is available at a bargain considering his current contractual situation. However, it is another Sociedad midfielder who has piqued Arteta’s interest for a long time now. Arsenal have been linked with a move for the €60m Martin Zubimendi in the past transfer windows but it looks like Premier League rivals Liverpool could end up signing him this summer.
According to reliable Liverpool journalist Paul Joyce, the Reds have expressed interest in signing Zubimendi. Yet to make a signing in the Arne Slot era, the Merseyside club’s first acquisition could be a big one. Barcelona were also interested in signing the 25-year-old last summer.
Martin Zubimendi – Player profile
Zubimendi is a natural number six. He can drop in between centre-backs to form a back three and is very adept and receiving the ball under pressure and turning his man. Despite being diminutive in stature, the Spaniard is quite physical in his play and is a decent ball-winner in midfield.
Being a Spaniard, he is unsurprisingly technically proficient and his passes are a joy to watch. You would never see Martin Zubimendi scoring many goals and providing assists but almost every important Real Sociedad attacking sequence would go through him. He attempted 51.3 passes per 90 in La Liga last season with 63.2 touches per game on average.
In a more technically proficient side like Arsenal or Liverpool, Zubimendi’s numbers would go even higher. One must not forget the Spaniard’s contribution to Spain’s 2-1 win against England in the Euros finals around a month ago. Coming on for the injured Rodri at half-time, the 23-year-old was everywhere and even won the ball back to start the play for Mikel Oyarzabal’s Championship clinching goal.
Signing someone like Martin Zubimendi would have freed Declan Rice at Arsenal, giving him the freedom to operate in more attacking positions which the Englishman certainly enjoys. However, we have chosen Merino over him and the 28-year-old would also be crucial to linking the midfield at the Emirates.
Arsenal are never a club to brood over missed opportunities. If Martin Zubimendi goes to Anfield, we wish him the best of luck, except when he plays against us. Let’s see if Liverpool can wrap up a deal for the 23-year-old this summer.
