Arsenal face Real competition for midfielder

Arsenal have long courted Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, with reports emerging in the English press during the January transfer window that they were in pole position to sign him in the summer.

However, it may not be as straightforward as all that, with suggestions that Real Madrid also have their eyes on him.

Real are looking to overhaul their midfield in the close season, with Toni Kroos already having retired and Luka Modrić now having reached the veteran stage of his career.

There have also been indications previously that Zubimendi does not want to leave Spain, one of the reasons why he turned down a move to Liverpool last summer, when it seemed like a deal had been done.

The Gunners may now find themselves in the unwanted position of trying to convince again a player they thought they had virtually acquired to sign for them, which will divert them from some of their other transfer business.

Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.