Arsenal set £100m asking price for Zubimendi as Real Madrid circle but balk at fee

Arsenal have placed a £100 million price tag on midfielder Martin Zubimendi amid reported interest from Real Madrid, a figure that would shatter the club’s transfer record by more than £60 million. According to Spanish journalist Tomas Gonzalez Martin, relayed by Fichajes, Madrid view the 27-year-old as a deep-lying playmaker for José Mourinho’s midfield — but president Florentino Perez is unwilling to meet Arsenal’s valuation.

Mikel Arteta has been unambiguous about his intentions. The Arsenal manager recently described Zubimendi as an “important player”, adding: “Without a doubt, he was one of the best players for Arsenal last season. Without him, we would never have got into the position that we got into in the last few weeks.” Those comments came in the context of Arsenal’s Premier League title win, in which Zubimendi started 34 of 38 league fixtures and appeared as a substitute in the remaining four.

The Spaniard also started 11 of Arsenal’s 14 Champions League matches last season, cementing his status as a cornerstone of Arteta’s rebuilt midfield. He had arrived from Real Sociedad last summer, with Real Madrid having previously failed to land him before he chose a move to north London.

The timing of Madrid’s renewed interest is complicated by Arsenal’s current injury situation. New signing Bruno Guimarães missed the Gunners’ opening Premier League fixture against Coventry City with a knock, while Declan Rice has been managing injury and fatigue. That context makes Zubimendi’s availability in the squad more valuable than it might appear on paper, and reinforces Arteta’s reluctance to sanction a sale with the transfer window closing next week.

Zubimendi did lose his starting place to academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly towards the end of last season after running short of steam, but he began the new campaign in the starting XI and recorded a brace in his fourth appearance for the club against Nottingham Forest earlier in the season.

Arsenal’s position, per reports, is that they would only consider selling for the right price — and at £100 million, they appear to have set that bar deliberately high. Whether Madrid are prepared to return with an improved offer before the window shuts remains to be seen.