Arsenal are on the brink of signing Spain star Martin Zubimendi despite Xabi Alonso making him a top target for Real Madrid this summer.
The Gunners made their move to wrap up a deal for the Spain international in January, agreeing a £51million deal to bring him to north London at the end of the season.
Manchester City have also been among his admirers with the 26-year-old rejecting a move to Liverpool last summer.
Despite a broad agreement with Arsenal being made in January, Real Madrid’s interest has remained with incoming Los Blancos boss Xabi Alonso eager to bring him at the Bernabeu.
Alonso confirmed on Friday he will step down as Bayer Leverkusen manager at the end of the season and is expected to replace Carlo Ancelotti in Spain.
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With Trent Alexander-Arnold already on his way from Liverpool, AS report Alonso is eager for the club to sign Zubimendi and Jonathan Tah as his first major additions.
The report claims Real’s hopes of signing Zubimendi are pinned on the midfielder and whether he was to join his idol in the Spanish capital.
But the Spaniard has now ‘verbally agreed’ to sign a long-term deal at Arsenal, Fabrizio Romano reports.
With Arsenal having already confirmed their intention to activate his £51mm release clause, he is set to become the Gunners’ first signing of the summer.
After crashing out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage this week, Mikel Arteta has acknowledged the club have taken ‘a step back’ in the Premier League with Liverpool running away with the title.
The Arsenal boss hopes signings like Zubimendi will go some way in addressing that, confirming on Friday talks over new arrivals are already in full swing.
‘If we are having those meetings now we are very late,’ Arteta said, speaking ahead of Sunday’s game against Liverpool, when asked if Arsenal had made progress on their rebuilding project.
Arsenal are also thought to be close to agreeing a move for highly-rated goalkeeper Joan Garcia to come in and challenge David Raya for the no1 sport.