Arsenal, which remained without a trophy, is actively working. Although the season is not yet over, there are reports that it has reached an agreement to sign Martin Zubimendi (26, Real Sociedad).

European football transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano noted on the 10th (Korean time) via his personal social media that "Arsenal has agreed to sign Zubimendi from Sociedad," adding that the phrase 'Here we go!' is used when the transfer is effectively confirmed.

Romano also said, "Zubimendi has verbally agreed to sign a long-term contract with Arsenal. Therefore, Arsenal must proceed to the official step to activate the buyout clause of 60 million euros (about 94.4 billion won). Zubimendi is ready to become Arsenal's first signing of the new season."

Ben Jacobs, active on 'Give Me Sport' and 'TalkSport', shared the same story. He stated, "Arsenal has reached a preliminary agreement to sign Zubimendi from Sociedad. The contract is postponed until there is an official announcement. Arsenal is cautious because Zubimendi has changed his mind in the past, but a complete agreement has been reached with the player at this time."

Unless there is a major surprise, Zubimendi is expected to be the first signing of Director Andrea Berta. He joined Arsenal about a month ago, succeeding Director Edu Gaspar. Jacobs mentioned, "Edu and Jason Ayto were the driving forces behind the acquisition of Zubimendi. However, it is expected that Zubimendi will be the first signing of the Berta era."

Born in 1999, Zubimendi is a defensive midfielder who plays for the Spain national team and is considered a top talent in La Liga. He is not very tall at 181 cm, but he adds stability to the team with his excellent defensive skills.

In addition, Zubimendi possesses excellent passing skills that are comparable to those of Xabi Alonso. He is a player capable of playing a pivotal role in the backward buildup under Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. He is essentially the archetypal number 6 midfielder that many teams are desperately looking for.

A product of Sociedad's youth academy, Zubimendi has never played for another team. He has worn the Sociedad jersey since he was 12 years old and made his first-team debut in the 2018-2019 season. Since the following year, he has established a prominent role in the team and is now a key player for Sociedad.

Zubimendi's career record at Sociedad now stands at 232 games, 10 goals, and 8 assists. Remarkably, he has never been sent off, despite being a defensive midfielder.

Zubimendi has also participated in the Spain national team and attracted interest from many big clubs. Last summer, he was close to a transfer to Liverpool. The newly appointed manager of Liverpool, Arne Slot, had pinpointed him and was set to activate the buyout clause. It is reported that he nearly secured Zubimendi's agreement.

However, Zubimendi changed his mind at the last minute, making it all a non-issue. He chose to stay with Sociedad, the team he has been with all his life, instead of joining Liverpool. With 'central partner' Mikel Merino on the brink of transferring to Arsenal, he felt he needed to remain with the team.

This summer is different. Zubimendi has now decided to embark on a new challenge and has agreed to join Arsenal, which has been showing interest for several months. Arsenal aims to build the team around Zubimendi by releasing Thomas Party and Jorginho, whose contracts are expiring.

Zubimendi is expected to join Mikel Merino on the UEFA Champions League (UCL) stage in the next season. Currently, Sociedad is ranked 11th in La Liga and will not participate in next season's European competitions, while Arsenal is in second place in the Premier League. Arsenal also showcased competitiveness this season by reaching the UCL semifinals.

Meanwhile, it is reported that Arsenal is also interested in South Korean national team forward Lee Kang-in. British outlet 'Caught Offside' reported that "Arsenal is set to sign 'Ligue 1 star' Lee Kang-in, who has recorded 12 attacking points this season. Arsenal is being linked with Lee Kang-in, the South Korean forward from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)."

Lee Kang-in is likely to be transferred this summer. Since the winter transfer market, his position in the team has significantly diminished, and he is mostly just sitting on the bench in the UCL stage. He has been dissatisfied with his playing time but is not creating problems to avoid disrupting the team’s atmosphere. Lee Kang-in and PSG plan to discuss his future after the season, and it is believed that PSG will let him go if a suitable offer comes in.

Due to this, there is a possibility that Arsenal will push for Lee Kang-in's signing again. In fact, Arsenal had inquired about signing Lee Kang-in last winter as well but was rejected by PSG. Manager Arteta, wanting to strengthen both the attacking line and midfield, might send another love call to Lee Kang-in. Caught Offside also recommended, "Lee Kang-in can grow into a top-class player at Arsenal."

However, according to British outlet 'BBC', Arsenal has prioritized other players over Lee Kang-in. The media reported that winger positions have included Nico Williams and Jamie Gittens on the wishlist, and only Zubimendi has been mentioned for the midfield. Arsenal has already decided to invest 90 million euros in acquiring Zubimendi, so if they spend a lot on signing Williams or Gittens, the rumors of Lee Kang-in's transfer may remain just that—rumors.

[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), 365 Scores, Fabrizio Romano, Football Insider social media.

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