Arsenal ‘close’ to sealing £51m January deal as the Gunners ‘finish rebuilding’ Arteta’s squad

 Arsenal ‘close’ to sealing £51m January deal as the Gunners ‘finish rebuilding’ Arteta’s squad

Arsenal are closing in a deal to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi ahead of the January transfer window, according to reports in Spain.

The Gunners brought in Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and David Raya in the summer transfer window as Mikel Arteta improved his squad once again.

Arsenal finished as runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League title race last season, having led the way for much of the year, and in turn qualified for the Champions League.

That gave them extra money to play with in the transfer market and now there are reports in Spain that they are edding towards a deal for Sociedad midfielder Zubimendi as they look to continue to add to their squad.

The Spain international has been linked to Arsenal before and now Spanish publication Nacional insist that the Gunners are ‘close to taking’ a ‘favorite’ of Barcelona boss Xavi away from his grasp.

Xavi is a big fan of the midfielder but Arsenal ‘have set their eyes on’ on Zubimendi – who has played 143 times for Real Socieded – as Arteta looks to ‘finish rebuilding’ his squad.

And any deal has now become ‘more of a dream than a possibility’ for Xavi with Arsenal able to trigger his €60m (£51m) release clause ‘without negotiating’ with Barcelona hoping to get the fee down.

Arsenal are now ‘pursuing his signature’ in January after prioritising Declan Rice over the summer with Arteta now making his compatriot his ‘top priority to strengthen the team’ in the winter.