Arsenal target Leroy Sané as they close in on Martin Zubimendi
Arsenal are showing strong interest in Leroy Sané as they close in on completing a deal for Martín Zubimendi.
Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, worked with Sané, 29, at Manchester City and wants to target a winger this summer. Bayern Munich have been in talks with Sané, who is out of contract at the German club this month and has attracted interest from several teams. Sané's agent was due to meet Bayern on Wednesday.
Sane scored 13 goals and claimed six assists across competitions this season, and ten and 13 respectively in the previous campaign. He joined Bayern from City in 2020.
Arsenal have long pursued Nico Williams as their main left-wing target and met the Athletic Bilbao player's representatives in April. Although Williams has a £42million release clause, he is expected to want a wage of more than £250,000 a week. The 22-year-old scored 11 and made seven goals across competitions this season, helping Bilbao to the Europa League semi-finals.
Arsenal want to give Zubimendi, 26, a medical before he joins up with Spain for the Nations League semi-final against France a week tomorrow (June 5). The club have tracked the Real Sociedad midfielder for a couple of seasons. He changed his mind on joining Liverpool last summer after they had been told he was willing to leave his boyhood club.
Arsenal have been in talks about paying instalments rather than meeting his release clause of €60million (about £51million) and paying the money in one instalment, which would have an impact on their transfer kitty this summer.
Zubimendi came through Real Sociedad's academy and has made more than 200 appearances since his debut in 2019. His 15 caps for Spain include featuring against England in the Euro 2024 final. His potential arrival as a holding midfielder could allow Declan Rice to move back to a No8 position alongside captain Martin Odegaard.
Arsenal have been in talks to extend Thomas Partey's contract beyond June and hope to offload a number of fringe players. Nuno Tavares will join Lazio for about £7.9million due to a clause in his loan contract. Fábio Vieira, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Reiss Nelson, Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko have been made available. The futures of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli are unclear.
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