Zubimendi to Arsenal ‘definitely going to happen’ as HIJACK theory emerges

It is only a matter of time before Martin Zubimendi can be considered an Arsenal player, but a deal may have been made possible only by an intervention last summer.

The Real Sociedad midfielder was heavily courted by Liverpool in the summer of 2024. Arne Slot and Richard Hughes had identified Zubimendi as an ideal player for the holding midfield role in their side.

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There was an expectation that a deal would happen. Real Sociedad certainly felt that the pull of Liverpool would to great for the Spain international to turn down. However, Zubimendi had a late change of heart and decided to stay with his boyhood club.

Although Liverpool were shocked by the decision, it has since turned out quite well for them, with Ryan Gravenberch emerging as an excellent option in the role Zubimendi had been earmarked for.

As for the Spaniard, he is thought to be on the verge of joining Arsenal this summer after the Gunners made significant progress in the winter months in convincing him to finally leave his hometown.

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Arsenal hijacked Liverpool’s Zubimendi deal

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Transfer Talk podcast, reporter Dharmesh Sheth has surmised that Zubimendi’s decision to snub Liverpool may have actually been encouraged by Arsenal, who intervened during his negotiations with the Reds.

“I’d say that the Zubimendi one is almost definitely going to happen to Arsenal. I just wonder when you look back now to the summer transfer window, Liverpool were all set to sign Zubimendi and then there was a late change of heart,” Sheth began.

“It’s not been confirmed to anyone, but seeing now, a year later, he’s very, very likely to join Arsenal – was there a late intervention by Arsenal in the summer? You have to ask that question because he looked all set to go to Liverpool. It looked like it was a done deal, the deal was agreed.

“It was him who changed his mind at the last minute. You just wonder whether Arsenal had come in and said, ‘Look, we desperately want you.’ Mikel Arteta knows him really well and maybe he [Zubimendi] thought, ‘I’ll just bide my time for the time being; I actually want to go to Arsenal.'”