FEE AGREED: Arsenal set to beat Liverpool and Chelsea to the signing of £50m superstar, Arsenal has already agreed to pay His release clause – player set to bid farewell to His teammates for Him to join Arsenal

Arsenal are interested in acquiring Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi and are willing to meet his £51 million release clause. However, according to the Spanish sports newspaper Sport, Zubimendi prefers to join either Barcelona or Real Madrid if he leaves Sociedad.

Arsenal has admired the Spain international for a long time and is eager to secure his signature. Despite this, it seems unlikely that a deal will go through. Sport reports that while Arsenal is ready to pay the release clause, they are aware that Zubimendi has different plans for his future.

The 25-year-old midfielder has consistently shown reluctance to leave Real Sociedad. He has stated that he would only consider moving to Barcelona or Real Madrid. Zubimendi’s commitment to Sociedad remains strong, especially after the team qualified for the Champions League last season, even though they only managed to finish sixth in La Liga.

Sociedad’s manager, Imanol Alguacil, has confirmed Zubimendi’s desire to stay with the club, expressing confidence in the player’s commitment. Given this situation, it seems Arsenal’s pursuit of Zubimendi is unlikely to succeed, and they may need to look elsewhere for midfield reinforcements.

Arsenal should consider other options in the transfer market. There are many talented defensive midfielders available, some of whom may offer better distribution skills than Zubimendi. One such player is Everton’s Amadou Onana. The 22-year-old Belgian has impressed with his defensive contributions and has the added advantage of Premier League experience. Onana could be a more realistic and beneficial target for Arsenal as they look to strengthen their squad.