Real Sociedad’s president has revealed that midfielder Martin Zubimendi’s future will be decided in June amid intense interest from Arsenal.
The 26-year-old came close to joining Liverpool last summer before changing his mind at the last-minute and has a release clause of £51million.
The Spanish international has been courted by Mikel Arteta for over 12 months, although Real Madrid have also reportedly shown interest.
Arsenal are in the market for a new central midfield player with Jorginho and Thomas Partey both running out of contract at the end of the season.
They will be boosted by president Jokin Aperribay’s comments, with the Sociedad chief failing to rule out a move away for Zubimendi from the Basque side.
Asked about the Euro 2024 winner’s future, Aperribay told Radio Marca Donostia: ‘We’ll see what happens. All I ask of him is one last effort to qualify for Europe and whatever happens, will happen in June.
Real Sociedad’s president revealed that Martin Zubimendi’s future will be decided in June
The 26-year-old came close to joining Liverpool last summer and has a release clause of £51m
Arteta is looking for a new central midfielder with Jorginho and Partey’s contracts expiring
‘There’s no point in speculating now about whether he’ll be there. He’s had several opportunities to leave and he’ll make the decision he wants, because he’ll have more options.’
Asked if Zubimendi would be signing a new contract in Spain, Aperribay added: ‘I don’t remember our last conversation. When I talk to him, it’s more about goals, pushing.
‘There’s one month left, and we’re playing against opponents who can beat us, but we can also beat them all.
‘There are no easy or difficult matches. Martin is part of that. I don’t know if it’s difficult for him to stay.
‘We haven’t tried to raise the clause. Don’t think contracts are negotiated like that. It’s more a matter of willpower. If he wants to continue the conversation, it will last five minutes. I don’t know if it’s difficult.’
Zubimendi wants to play Champions League football but Sociedad sit in tenth place in La Liga and look set to miss out on any European football next season.
They meekly bowed out in the last-16 of the Europa League following defeat by Manchester United and in the past week announced that B team boss Sergio Francisco will be stepping up to replace Imanol Alguacil at the end of the season.
Liverpool narrowly missed out on signing Zubimendi for £51m last summer before a dramatic U-turn the midfielder remain at the Reale Arena.
Liverpool wanted to bolster their squad ahead of Arne Slot’s debut campaign at Anfield
The Reds were keen to bolster their squad ahead of Arne Slot’s debut campaign at Anfield, before Zubimendi ultimately decided to stay.
Opening up on his decision to stay at Sociedad last summer, Zubimendi told the Spanish press in August: ‘I didn’t have any pressure from my close circle.
‘My friends are clear that whatever I decide, it will be the best. There is no pressure at all.
‘Real Sociedad for me is my life, I think I’ve been in there for half my life. A lot of what I am is part of Real, it’s my life,’ he added.
