Arsenal gain advantage to sign £52m star with club outraged by Barcelona meeting | OneFootball

Arsenal have been handed an advantage in the pursuit of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi ahead of the summer transfer window.

The Gunners are long-term admirers of the Spaniard and it has been reported he could finally leave Sociedad due to his ambition to grow as a footballer.

Sociedad are reluctant to sell him for less than his €60 million (£52m) release clause and Mundo Deportivo claim Arsenal have ‘positioned themselves’ to sign him.

Barcelona have also targeted the midfielder for some time, but they face outrage from Sociedad after a private meeting with the player’s representative, as per Estadio Deportivo.

Sporting director Deco invited his agent for a meeting earlier this week which has not gone well with Sociedad, given the clubs face each other in La Liga on Monday evening.

Arsenal have ‘shown their willingness’ to meet the buy-out clause while Barcelona are not in any position to do so unless they can recoup funds from player sales.

Arsenal have financial edge over Barcelona in Zubimendi race

The Gunners have looked at the possibility of signing Zubimendi for the past few years, but the Spaniard has had no desire to end his association with his boyhood club.

The midfielder made it clear last summer that he wanted to play Champions League football with Sociedad. However, it won’t be possible next season as Sociedad can’t finish higher than fifth in La Liga.

This could pave the way for a summer exit. Zubimendi is reportedly ‘seduced‘ by the Premier League. Arsenal should have the edge with no competition from any other English club.

Barcelona are still in a financial crisis and they have yet to pay a single penny for the transfer of Vitor Roque from Athletico Paranaense at the start of the year.

On that basis, they are unlikely to be able to afford Zubimendi. Sociedad are also unlikely to play the waiting game and would prefer an early transfer to land a replacement.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com.