Arsenal 'confident of landing £51m Zubimendi' despite late 'interest from Real'

Arsenal are confident of completing the signing of Martin Zubimendi this summer despite interest from Real Madrid, according to a report.

Mail Sport exclusively revealed in January that the Gunners will land the Spain international in the upcoming window, having courted him for more than 12 months.

However, in the following months, reports in Spain indicated that the European champions were showing interest in the midfielder and could hijack the deal.

But, according to ESPN, the Gunners are confident of acquiring the signature of the Real Sociedad star, with negotiations already at an advanced stage. His signing is expected to kickstart an important summer of recruitment for the north London club.

The midfielder, who came close to joining Liverpool last summer before turning his back on the deal last-minute, has a release clause of £51million in his contract.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is a keen admirer of the 15-time Spanish international.

Arsenal’s need for a new central midfielder ahead of next season has been heightened with Jorginho and Thomas Partey both out of contract at the end of the season and the club have accelerated their interest in Zubimendi.

Liverpool came close to signing Zubimendi for £52m last summer before a dramatic U-turn saw the 26-year-old midfielder remain at the LaLiga club.

The Reds were keen to bolster their squad with a No 6 ahead of Arne Slot's debut campaign at Anfield, before Zubimendi ultimately decided to stay.

Opening up on his decision to stay at Sociedad last summer, Zubimendi told the Spanish press in August: 'I didn't have any pressure from my close circle.

'My friends are clear that whatever I decide, it will be the best. There is no pressure at all.

'Real Sociedad for me is my life, I think I've been in there for half my life. A lot of what I am is part of Real, it's my life,' he added.

Zubimendi and Sociedad have not had the best of seasons, as the side currently sit 10th in the Spanish top flight and meekly bowed out in the last-16 of the Europa League following defeat by Manchester United.