Forget Rice, Arsenal could now sign £52m ace only second to Man City star Rodri

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Arsenal target Martin Zubimendi is considered to be one of the best players in the world in his position.

Arsenal have been credited with an interest in Martin Zubimendi in recent weeks. Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the Gunners regard the Real Sociedad star as “a special player.”

The north London club certainly aren’t alone in feeling that way. Zubimendi has been in fine form for the La Liga outfit this season, and has now drawn grand praise from journalist and Spanish football expert Sid Lowe.

Speaking on The Guardian Football Weekly podcast, Lowe said, “Martin Zubimendi is, I think, just about as good a deep-lying midfielder as there is in Europe, apart from maybe Rodri.”

This is high praise indeed, as Rodri is, of course, an elite-level midfielder. The Manchester City star was an integral figure in Pep Guardiola’s side last season as they secured a historic treble, winning the Premier League, the Champions League, and the FA Cup. Rodri was in fact the man who scored the goal that won Manchester City their first Champions League crown in their history.

Do Arsenal need Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi?

However, that being said, Mikel Arteta will feel that he already has a player at his disposal who is on Rodri’s, and indeed Zubimendi’s, level. Declan Rice has been a revelation at the Emirates Stadium since his arrival in the recent summer transfer window for a club-record £105 million fee. 

Rice was a talismanic figure for his former club West Ham United, and has almost certainly been the best deep-lying midfielder in the Premier League so far this season, surpassing even Rodri on current form.

Despite already having Rice at the club, Arsenal may well still be keen on securing Zubimendi’s services. However, he will not come particularly cheaply, as the Gunners will need to trigger the 24-year-old’s £52 million release clause, as reported by The Times. Even that fee, though, would be just less than half of what Arteta shelled out to sign Rice, which would make Zubimendi something of a bargain considering he is thought to be at a similar level to the England man.

What’s more, despite Rice’s presence, there could soon be room for Zubimendi in the Gunners’ ranks. Arsenal are already planning for life without Thomas Partey, and the Spain international would be the perfect replacement for the Ghanaian star. 

Seeing how Arteta would blend Rice and Zubimendi into the same team, with Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz, amongst others, also in the mix, would be fascinating to witness.