Arsenal star pays visit to Mikel Arteta’s transfer target’s club – deal is imminent

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Arsenal are expected to significantly invest in Mikel Arteta’s squad in the transfer market this summer.

The Gunners are looking to rebuild their midfield department, while they also want a striker, a winger, and a back-up goalkeeper.

The likes of Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko and Nico Williams are being heavily linked as forward reinforcements, with Joan Garcia said to be the most likely signing in between the sticks.

However, who Arsenal acquire to strengthen their midfield remains up in the air, although one name has been touted frequently in the media.

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Mikel Merino pays visit to Real Sociedad amid Martin Zubimendi to Arsenal links

Martin Zubimendi is expected to sign for Arsenal for £51 million in the summer, with the Real Sociedad man likely to be one of two additions in the middle of the park.

Jorginho is set to agree a pre-contract with Flamengo, while Thomas Partey’s contract expires in June, meaning the Gunners need another signing alongside Zubimendi in this department.

A new hint that the deal for the Spaniard may be more advanced than reports suggest has emerged, with Mikel Merino paying a visit to Sociedad after finishing international duty this week.

Arsenal’s current makeshift striker joined the North London club from the La Liga side for a purported £32 million last summer.

Merino scored for Spain against the Netherlands last week, and celebrated his international exploits by stopping by at the Basque club to see some of his old friends.

Pictured by Sociedad at the club’s training ground, visiting some former colleagues may well have been the only intention behind the trip, although it’s likely that he and Zubimendi engaged in conversations about a prospective move to Arsenal over this international break.

Martin Zubimendi’s statistics

Zubimendi is expected to slot into Arteta’s team next to Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice, essentially replacing Partey.

The 26-year-old Spanish international boasts impressive defensive numbers, with his ability to break up play and stop transitions one of his best attributes.

This makes him well-suited to Arteta’s controlled style of play, allowing the Gunners to suffocate the opposition with relentless waves of attack.

However, Zubimendi arguably doesn’t offer the ball progression through passing that you’d want from your number six.

Managing over six progressive passes per 90 is impressive, but it’s not the elite piece of data you’d associate with a technical Spanish deep-lying playmaker.

If he does complete his switch to Arsenal, it’ll be incumbent on Arteta to elicit more in possession from Zubimendi.