Arsenal close on £51million transfer as Mikel Arteta finally gets breakthrough

Arsenal have seemingly won the race for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi - but he may not join the Gunners until NEXT season.

Zubimendi, 25, has long been courted by a slew of Europe's elite, including several top Premier League clubs. And it's widely known that he has been a long-term target for Arsenal, who tried to sign the Spaniard last year.

Liverpool tried to get a deal done for the playmaker in the summer, only for the Euro 2024 winner to have a late change of heart. But Zubimendi is now poised to seal a blockbuster move to the Premier League.

Talks over a summer move to Arsenal are now at an advanced stage with the player ready to move on from Sociedad. Zubimendi is known to have a £51million release clause written into his contract which the Londoners are now poised to trigger.

But while the Gunners would like the player to join them in the January transfer window, Sociedad are adamant that Zubimendi must stay in Spain and see the season out, as first revealed by The Mail.

Arsenal don't have the wriggle room when it comes to Premier League PSR rules to pay Zubimendi's buyout clause to La Liga up front right now. Thus they are continuing to negotiate the exact payment terms with La Real - hence why a deal is expected to be delayed until the summer. Without the Basque side's help or willing, Arsenal cannot get it over the line right now.

Nevertheless, the deal is regarded as a major coup for Mikel Arteta and co, even though it was thought their most pressing priority this month would be a striker.

Their need for January reinforcements - particularly in the forward areas - has only been heightened by the nasty looking knee injury Gabriel Jesus suffered in their loss to Manchester United at the weekend.

Arteta has made no secret of the club's desire to do business in January, although he's refused to make any promises over incomings. He said recently: "We are actively looking in the market to improve the squad. That’s been like that since day one.

"It would be naive not to do that. It’s an opportunity to improve the squad. We are looking. We are trying. Let’s see what we can do."