The big North London Derby win isn’t the only good news for Arsenal fans this week.
The Gunners returned to winning ways after a dominant performance against Tottenham. They completely deserved the win and the bragging rights stay on the Red side of North London.
Arsenal fans are all delighted with the result, but there’s more excellent news coming their way.
Mikel Arteta and his team have reached an agreement on personal terms with one of their long-term transfer targets over a move to the Emirates this year.
Martin Zubimendi agrees personal terms with Arsenal
Martin Zubimendi has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal for years.
The Spaniard is among the best defensive midfielders in Europe, and several clubs have been chasing his signature over the last 24 months.
Zubimendi rejected Liverpool last summer, and many in the game felt that he was holding out for a move to Real Madrid in 2025.
That, however, is not the plan.
Reports revealed recently that Arsenal are all set to sign Zubimendi in the summer transfer window, and there’s now more good news regarding the move.
Football Transfers reveal that Arsenal and Zubimendi have reached a full agreement on personal terms. The midfielder will double his salary and earn €80,000 (£75,000) per week once he makes his move to the Emirates.
That is nothing for Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke, who pays way more than that to over half of the Gunners’ current squad every week.
The Spain star has a €60 million (£51m) release clause, which the Gunners are prepared to trigger. However, Arsenal could also offer more than that fee to sign Zubimendi in order to stagger the payments instead of paying the full fee in one go.
The secret weapon Arsenal have used to convince Martin Zubimendi
Zubimendi has been a hard man to convince for several clubs.
Liverpool tried extremely hard last summer and failed, while Arsenal have pushed to lure Zubimendi in for over a year and have been unsuccessful.
That is because he is really attached to San Sebastian and his family there, and has always been reluctant to leave. That’s about to change.
The report claims that ‘Arsenal have ’employed Mikel Merino, his former Real Sociedad midfield colleague, to speak to his friend and assure him that he’s making the right move’.
If this move does go through, agent Merino will be one to thank.
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