Real Madrid rush to secure Martin Zubimendi before rivals strike

The urgency comes as both Arsenal and Liverpool have shown keen interest in the 26-year-old, who has been described by Barcelona legend Xavi as "an extraordinary defensive midfielder."

Zubimendi, who nearly joined Liverpool in the summer of 2024 but decided to stay with Sociedad, is reportedly considering his future as the season draws to a close.

Transfer expert Fraser Fletcher has indicated that Arsenal are particularly interested in securing his services in the upcoming transfer window.

Madrid's interest in Zubimendi is no secret, with the club viewing him as a key component in their ongoing project to dominate both Spanish and European football.

According to a report by Fichajes, Madrid are keen to act swiftly to prevent Arsenal or Liverpool from making a move. Florentino Perez, Madrid's president, is directly involved in negotiations, aiming to leverage the excellent relationship between Madrid and Sociedad to negotiate below Zubimendi's 60 million euros release clause.

Adding to the transfer buzz, Real Madrid are also eyeing Arsenal's William Saliba. Sky Sport Switzerland has reported that Saliba is eager for a move to the Santiago Bernabeu, seeing it as the "ultimate dream of his career."

The interest in Saliba intensified after Madrid contacted his representatives in January, with the prospect of teaming up with fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappe being particularly appealing. Arsenal, however, have set a high valuation of 100 million pounds for Saliba.

Meanwhile, Madrid's squad could see further changes. Brahim Diaz, who has been a valuable squad player this season, scoring three goals and providing six assists, has caught the eye of Liverpool's new head coach, Arne Slot.

There's also speculation about the future of Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo, with Manchester City reportedly interested in both players. Pep Guardiola, who had his eyes on Bellingham before his move from Dortmund to Madrid, is keen to revisit the possibility of signing him.

On the contract front, Vinicius Junior has turned down Madrid's initial offer for a new deal. This development comes amidst interest from the Saudi Pro League, which has positioned the Brazilian forward as a major target for the summer transfer window.

As the transfer saga unfolds, Madrid are clearly playing a strategic game, aiming to bolster their squad while keeping an eye on potential departures, all in the pursuit of maintaining their dominance in football.