A second club has emerged in the race to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, it has been reported.
The Daily Mail reported on Tuesday that Arsenal were set to sign the Spain midfielder in the summer, with his current club wanting to at least keep him in Sociedad until the end of the current season.
It is claimed that the Gunners had agreed to pay a release clause of £51 million to sign the 25-year-old, who won Euro 2024 with Spain in the summer.
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David Ornstein reports that Arsenal are even considering paying a higher amount than the release clause, so that they can pay the fee in instalments over several years to enable them to complete more transfer business.
But their efforts could now be thwarted by a second club.
According to Sky Sports Germany's Florian Plettenberg, Bayern Munich are continuing to monitor Zubimendi and are now showing 'concrete interest' in the midfielder.
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It is also claimed that, like Arsenal, they are aiming to sign the 25-year-old next summer, but are wary that Sociedad are 'unwilling to negotiate' for a fee lower than the player's release clause.
Bayern are currently top of the Bundesliga under new manager Vincent Kompany, having lost just one of their opening 17 games of the season.
They are four points clear of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, who are enjoying another strong campaign under Xabi Alonso but will not record another unbeaten season, having lost 3-2 at home to RB Leipzig back in August.
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Should Zubimendi join Bayern, it would present Kompany with a selection dilemma in midfield.
Joao Palhinha signed for the club from Fulham in the summer but is currently absent through injury, while Leon Goretzka has come back into favour in recent months and now appears set to stay at the club.
Plettenberg also claims that Real Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool are also monitoring Zubimendi but it appears that their interest is yet to reach a formal bid stage at present.
Topics: Arsenal, Transfers, Champions League
Ryan Smart