Chelsea and Real Madrid have expressed interest in Martin Zubimendi after Arsenal signed Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United.
Mikel Arteta bolstered what was already a strong and deep Arsenal midfield with the £75m signing of Guimaraes.
The Brazil international emerged as a top target for Arteta earlier in the summer and Arsenal finally made a breakthrough in transfer talks after weeks of negotiations.
Guimaraes strengthens a Premier League title-winning midfield which already includes the likes of Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino, Eberechi Eze, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Zubimendi.
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Zubimendi made a superb start to his Arsenal career following last summer’s £60m move from Real Sociedad but lost his place in the team towards the end of the campaign.
Lewis-Skelly started ahead of Zubimendi during the run-in and the Spain international was benched for Arsenal’s Champions League final against PSG.
Zubimendi was included in Spain’s triumphant World Cup squad but barely featured for Luis de la Fuente’s side, making just one appearance during the tournament.
The 27-year-old could face an uncertain future at Arsenal given he was already struggling for minutes before Guimaraes’ arrival, with Chelsea and Real Madrid reportedly expressing interest in securing his signature.
New Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso worked with Zubimendi at Real Sociedad and tried to sign him last summer during his spell in charge of Real Madrid.
Reports in Spain said Madrid were ‘gutted’ to miss out on a deal for Zubimendi and the La Liga giants are said to be interested in reviving their interest if Arsenal indicate he could be sold.
But Arsenal have ‘no desire’ to offload Zubimendi this summer, according to the Daily Express, and still view the Spaniard as a key member of Arteta’s squad.
It is claimed Arteta also intends to keep hold of Zubimendi despite Guimaraes’ arrival as he plots a Premier League title defence and another Champions League challenge.
While Arsenal appear determined not to sell Zubimendi, the report adds that ‘every player has his price’, with the club willing to change their stance should an ‘exorbitant fee’ arrive on the table.
Last week reports in Spain said Arsenal valued Zubimendi, now a World Cup, Premier League and European Championship winner, at around 90m euros (£77m).
Amid speculation they could target Zubimendi, Chelsea have been offered the chance to sign his Arsenal teammate Lewis-Skelly.
Chelsea have rejected the opportunity but should press ahead with their pursuit of Zubimendi, according to former Blues defender Glen Johnson.
‘I think he would be a brilliant signing for Chelsea,’ Johnson, who won the Premier League at Stamford Bridge, told SeatPin.
‘I’m not sure why Arsenal are even signing players to replace him when he was so influential for them last season.
‘He has worked with Alonso before at Real Sociedad, so Xabi must really like the player to be pushing to re-sign him at Chelsea.
‘He’s now a Premier League winner, so he’s only going to be a better player than what he was when they last worked together.
‘I’d be surprised if Arsenal let him go to Chelsea, but if they do, more fool them. He was brilliant last season and knows what it takes to win in the Premier League, which is exactly what Chelsea need.
‘He could be the backbone of Chelsea’s midfield next season, and if Alonso wants him as badly as being reported, then the club should do everything they can to sign him.’
Arsenal begin their Premier League title defence against newly-promoted Coventry City a week on Friday.
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