Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi has emerged as a high-profile transfer target for Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Atlético de Madrid ahead of the January window, with the Gunners demanding at least £60 million to part ways with the Spain international.
- Depth Chart Shift: Zubimendi’s potential departure frees up central midfield minutes, cementing Bruno Guimarães and Declan Rice as Mikel Arteta’s primary double-pivot pairing.
- Transfer Budget Dynamics: Arsenal’s insistence on recouping their £60 million investment directly funds Arteta’s search for an explosive, ball-carrying winger.
Zubimendi’s reduced prominence in North London has forced elite suitors to circle. According to The Independent, the Spanish midfielder has slipped down the tactical pecking order, managing just 380 minutes across 12 matches in all competitions this term.
Arteta has leaned heavily on Declan Rice and the £85 million arrival of Bruno Guimarães, alongside academy product Myles Lewis-Skelly. That tactical realignment left the former Real Sociedad metronome searching for consistent minutes.
Real Madrid have maintained a long-standing interest in the 27-year-old, tracking his profile since his time in La Liga. Those ties intensified after Carlo Ancelotti’s side missed out on Rodri, and the Spanish capital giants are now weighing a winter approach.
| Player | Club | Appearances (2026/27) | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Zubimendi | Arsenal | 12 | 380 |
| Bruno Guimarães | Arsenal | — | — |
| Declan Rice | Arsenal | — | — |
Arsenal’s willingness to offload a player who featured heavily in their previous Premier League title-winning campaign stems from strict squad-building priorities. Arteta wants a dynamic winger who excels in 1D progression and high-velocity ball-carrying, but financial balancing requires a major sale first.
The Independent reports that Arsenal will refuse any bid that fails to match the at least £60 million fee they paid to sign him from Real Sociedad in 2025. That valuation sets a steep economic barrier for both Madrid clubs and Chelsea, who are all making winter squad adjustments.
Adding to the complexity, Zubimendi is managing a physical setback. He picked up a suspected broken nose during a 2-0 victory over Everton after coming on as an 80th-minute substitute, though club medical staff cleared him to continue playing in a protective mask.
Beyond the Premier League, Atlético de Madrid have joined their crosstown rivals in monitoring the situation. Miguel Delaney of The Independent reported that Chelsea have also entered the three-way race, utilizing their financial muscle to challenge La Liga’s elite.
Zubimendi’s technical stock remains exceptionally high despite domestic rotation. He anchored Spain’s midfield during their victorious World Cup run last July, providing the critical outlet that led to Ferran Torres’s decisive final goal.
As the winter window approaches, the deciding factor rests on whether Arsenal can secure their desired attacking reinforcement first, or if an aggressive suitor triggers the £60 million valuation outright.
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