Arsenal make Martin Zubimendi transfer breakthrough as Andrea Berta faces final decision

Arsenal have reached a verbal agreement with Martin Zubimendi to sign him from Real Sociedad in the summer transfer window, reports have claimed.

The Gunners have been linked to Zubimendi for a number of years with a move to Emirates Stadium one of many he rejected in favour of staying at his boyhood club.

Last summer, he turned down the chance to become Liverpool's first signing under Arne Slot.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

However, just a few months ago, his stance changed significantly with it first revealed by that

A significant amount of uncertainty surrounded exactly who was negotiating the deal and ultimately wrapping it up with it announced Edu would be leaving the club in late 2024.

Jayson Ayto became interim sporting director before Andrea Berta, with Mikel Arteta playing a role in the decision, was confirmed as Edu's permanent replacement in March. and now, the green light from Zubimendi has been given.

As revealed by on Friday evening, the Gunners have reached a full agreement on personal terms with Zubimendi. football.london understands that Arsenal have been confident in a getting the deal done for some time with other deals worked on under the expectation he would be joining.

The deal is not fully over the line just yet however, with a fee still needing to be paid to Sociedad.

That part seems easy enough with the Spanish midfielder having a £50.8million (€60m) release clause in his contract, however Arsenal could opt to pay that using instalments as they did for Declan Rice with confirming as such.

Speaking to NBC back in January, he said: “My understanding is that they [Arsenal] might look to pay a bit more so that they can stagger the payments and that would allow them to do other business next summer.”

With a striker signing also expected, that seems to be a route that Arsenal will try and take.

Following their Champions League exit, it is quite clear that Arsenal need to make some big signings over the coming months.

, Arteta said: "Very much, yeah. Already with the players that we have and having everybody fit and available, we are a super strong team."

"What we've done in the Champions League semi-final, we haven't done in 20 years in this football club with the actual players that we have right now.

"Very, very positive about it."