Arsenal handed huge boost in pursuit of €60m midfielder amid Real Madrid interest | OneFootball

Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi is set to reject interest from Real Madrid in favour of seaing a move to Arsenal, a report in Spain has claimed.

Zubimendi's future with Sociedad has been the subject of significant speculation for the last 12 months. He was expected to join Liverpool last summer, only to ultimately reject the Reds' advances in favour of one more season with his current side.

Since then, however, it is Arsenal who have stepped into the lead in the race for his signature. It was reported in January that they had already wrapped up a deal, and while that appears to have been somewhat premature, the Gunners continue to work on what would be a significant summer signing.

Madrid are known to be keen on Zubimendi as they seek to bolster the Spanish core of their squad, but according to MARCA's Oscar Badallo, the decision to join Arsenal has already been made.

Zubimendi would cost €60m / Ion Alcoba Beitia/GettyImages

"Zubimendi is on his way to Arsenal," the journalist said. "There's no need to keep going round in circles with this. Last year it was Barcelona [who were linked], this year Real Madrid..."

Real Sociedad are prepared to demand Zubimendi's release clause of €60m (£50.2m) be triggered to authorise his departure.

"They're asking for €60m and for it to be done quickly so he can say goodbye on the pitch," Badallo continued. "The idea is Arsenal, unless Real Madrid comes in strong to take him."

Zubimendi would offer some much-needed reinforcements to a midfield group which is likely to lose both Jorginho and Thomas Partey when their contracts expire. Competition for places in Madrid would likely be stiffer with Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni already battling for just two starting places, and Luka Modric potentially also sticking around.