Why Arsenal might struggle to sign midfield transfer target this summer

Arsenal have their work cut out if they are to sign midfielder Martin Zubimendi this summer given the Spaniard's desire to play under a particular coach.

With Kai Haverz impressing in a forward role, Arsenal's priorities in the summer could shift away from the addition of a new #9. Instead, the club could make big-money moves for a winger and midfielder.

The Gunners have already been linked with a whole host of names to rejuvenate their engine room, including Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes. Sociedad's Zubimendi is a long-standing target, although Arsenal haven't yet made a move for the midfielder.

And if they opt to pursue the 25-year-old this summer, they could run into some difficulties.

Why Arsenal might struggle to sign midfield transfer target this summer

Zubimendi has attracted interest from not only Arsenal, but Barcelona and Bayern Munich as well. Some have touted the Spaniard to be the true heir to Sergio Busquets in Catalonia, with Frenkie de Jong struggling to take the mantle in a deep-lying midfield position.

However, Zubimendi has so far been reluctant to leave his boyhood club.

According to Simon Collings of the Evening Standard, the 25-year-old wants to play under his idol Xabi Alonso, who confirmed in March that he'll remain at Bayer Leverkusen for the 2024/25 campaign after guiding the club to their first ever Bundesliga title. Alonso coached Zubimendi at Real Sociedad B, with the highly-regarded manager playing a key role in the midfielder's rise into La Real's first team.

“He’s an idol, a role model, so I’m delighted that he says nice things about me,” Zubimendi said about Alonso in 2022.

It was expected that if Alonso joined Bayern this summer, which once seemed a possibility, he'd be joined by Zubimendi.

“Martín’s a player all coaches would want,” Alonso once said. “He’s generous, he always thinks more about his teammates than himself. He has that ability to generate play, to make those around him better, always offering solutions; to improve the move. He understands what the next step is before the ball gets to him. He has that ability to organise, the axis. I loved working with him.”

If Zubimendi is content at Sociedad for now and keen to work with Alonso further down the line, a move for the 25-year-old seems unlikely this summer. While the Spaniard is a fine fit for Arteta's framework in the middle of the park, Arsenal should have the luxury to spend big on an alternative.

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