Arsenal continue working on their summer recruitment plans ahead of an imperative 2025/2026 campaign, with Mikel Arteta looking to swiftly put the disappointments of last season firmly behind him and bring silverware back to the Emirates.
Arsenal attempting to secure key summer signings for Mikel Arteta
New sporting director Andrea Berta’s arrival at N5 was met with plenty of excitement and anticipation for the window ahead.
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He’s made a definitive decision.
Since replacing Edu Gaspar in the role, Berta has wasted no time in identifying key targets and moving forward with due negotiations.
|
Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports) |
Money on new signings |
|---|---|
|
19/20 – winter |
£0 |
|
20/21 – summer |
£81.5m |
|
20/21 – winter |
£900k |
|
21/22 – summer |
£156.8m |
|
21/22 – winter |
£1.8m |
|
22/23 – summer |
£121.5m |
|
22/23 – winter |
£59m |
|
23/24 – summer |
£208m |
|
23/24 – winter |
£0 |
|
24/25 – summer |
£101.5m |
|
24/25 – winter |
£0 |
Arsenal’s pursuit of a second-choice goalkeeper to replace Neto and provide David Raya with an astute back-up now looks set to end with the looming arrival of Chelsea’s Arrizabalaga, who’s poised to join the Gunners for just £5 million due to a release clause in his contract.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are also attempting to sign RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko to end their long wait for a prolific frontman, with Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg among the credible media outlets to report that “concrete talks” have been held over a move for the Slovenian.
However, one man who was long thought to be joining Arsenal, before either of these names, comes in the form of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.
The Spain international caused a major stir when denying reports that he’s set for a medical with Arsenal, which even came after renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano gave his famous ‘here we go’ to the deal, indicating that his move to the Emirates was done.
Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay even made a cryptic statement suggesting his transfer to Arsenal was nowhere near as advanced as this, but reliable media sources have since come out to reassure supporters that their signing of Zubimendi remains firmly on track.
David Ornstein shares Martin Zubimendi update out of Arsenal
Firstly, Romano reiterated earlier this week that an Arsenal deal for Zubimendi is definitively agreed, but also refused to rule out the prospect of Real Madrid hijacking this deal in a sensationally late fashion.
However, in an even more positive update, The Athletic correspondent David Ornstein has now poured cold water over the prospect of Real swooping in at all, despite reports to the contrary from Spain.
Ornstein states that Arsenal consider Zubimendi’s transfer as “done and signed”, and Bernabeu sources say Real never actively pursued a move for the “world-class” 26-year-old.
In his detailed piece for The Athletic, Ornstein adds that Sociedad want the deal to be fully ratified in July for accounting purposes, so they can log Zubimendi’s sale as part of the next financial year.
This could seriously explain the delay behind his likely announcement as an Arsenal player, so it appears supporters can breathe an even bigger sigh of relief when it comes to the Sociedad star’s looming arrival.
