Arsenal want to haunt Real Madrid again by signing £50m transfer target

Arsenal are aiming to inflict more misery upon Real Madrid by beating them to Martin Zubimendi's signature this summer.

The Gunners beat the 15-time Champions League winners home and away to advance into the semi-finals of the competition, and they remain unbeaten against the Spanish behemoths in competitive action.

It was a chastening exit for Los Blancos, who made such a big deal of staging dramatic 'remontada' in the second leg after losing 3-0 in north London. Instead, Carlo Ancelotti's men fell flat and lost 2-1 in their own backyard.

The Spaniards are expected to make significant adjustments to their midfield this summer, but it looks like they're going to lose out on a major target to those pesky Gunners.

Arsenal aiming to land Martin Zubimendi at start of summer transfer window

All the signs are pointing towards Zubimendi joining Arsenal. ESPN have reported that the Gunners remain confident of confirming the midfielder's arrival despite interest from Madrid.

The north Londoners are said to be at an advanced stage of their pursuit, with the midfielder boasting a £51.2m release clause, which, due to La Liga rules, must be paid in full.

Earlier this week, David Ornstein (via afcstuff on X) noted that Arsenal regard the Zubimendi deal to be as good as done. Mikel Arteta has sweet-talked the Spanish international into joining the Gunners after the Real Sociedad star stayed loyal to his boyhood club for so many years, opting against a move to Liverpool last summer in favour of remaining in San Sebastian.

"“Arsenal are expecting him to arrive in the summer. Internally, they seem to be working on the basis that Zubimendi will be coming in and they’ll be building the team with him in there.”"

David Ornstein

Madrid's potential pursuit of Xabi Alonso does throw a spanner into the works, with Zubimendi previously suggesting that he'd love to work with the current Bayer Leverkusen manager again. Alonso is the favourite to replace Ancelotti in Madrid this summer.

However, it seems as if Arsenal have done enough to ensure Zubimendi will resist a potential pursuit from Los Blancos. Arteta is believed to be a huge admirer of the metronomic 26-year-old and new sporting director is well aware of the Sociedad star given his lengthy tenure at Atletico Madrid.

While Arsenal now look poised to extend the contract of Thomas Partey, Jorginho is a sure bet to depart as a free agent in June. Zubimendi, given his age and profile, is the ideal replacement.

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