Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool & Real Madrid given huge transfer boost as midfield star 'ready to go' | OneFootball

The glut of elite clubs drooling over Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi have been given hope by recent claims that the Spain international is "ready" to leave his boyhood club.

Zubimendi has been on the radar of Europe's premier sides since establishing himself as a first-team regular in the Basque Country at the turn of the decade. Barcelona have been long-term admirers of the cerebral holding midfielder, but the Catalans' financial constraints ensure that they have enough problems registering the players they do own, let alone finding room in the budget for new recruits.

A trio of Premier League clubs - Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City - have been most prolifically linked with Zubimendi in recent windows. The Merseyside outfit came perilously close to snapping up the 25-year-old last summer, triggering his €60m (£50m) buyout clause only to be snubbed at the death by the player himself.

Real Madrid have now waded into the race, identifying the scheming midfielder as the long-term successor to Toni Kroos.

Martin Zubimendi has experience in the Champions League and Europa League with Real Sociedad / Soccrates Images/GettyImages

Zubimendi may not have been ready to leave La Real last summer - citing the need to develop more as a player before embarking upon a new challenge - but is now not only open, but keen on a transfer, according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.

The journalist told the BBC that Zubimendi "is ready to go". While City were named as an obvious suitor - Zubimendi is perhaps the most natural Rodri replacement on the planet, even coming on for his compatriot during the final of Euro 2024 - Liverpool's interest may have cooled.

Arne Slot has repurposed Ryan Gravenberch into an accomplished holding midfielder this season, prompting Balague to speculate: "I don't think Liverpool will go back."

Zubimendi offers a youthful replacement for Arsenal's Thomas Partey - who will be out of contract in the summer - and Manchester United were even raised as a potential destination.

The player may be ready, but his club are adamant that no deal will be struck in January. Real Sociedad sporting director Roberto Olabe confidently predicted that the club will not have "any scares" during the winter window regarding their prized midfielder. Whether Zubimendi will remain in San Sebastian beyond the summer is another matter entirely.