Arsenal see €60 million Barcelona midfield target as a priority signing for the summer

Arsenal are gearing up for an important summer ahead, with many players facing an uncertain future at Emirates.

One of them is Jorginho. The Italian’s contract expires at the end of the season and he will become a free agent in the summer. Interestingly, Barcelona have been linked with a move for Jorginho in the past.

Nevertheless, a more worrying prospect for Barcelona is that Arsenal may enter the market for a new defensive midfielder, in light of Jorginho’s expected departure.

Arsenal target move for Zubimendi

In fact, a recent report from Caught Offside states that Arsenal are looking at none other than Martin Zubimendi as a replacement for Jorginho.

The Premier League giants consider Zubimendi a talented prospect, who can replace Jorginho in the years to come.

What does the future hold for Zubimendi this summer? (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Zubimendi has been a top performer at Real Sociedad for years now. What makes him such an appealing target for Arsenal is his release clause, which is valued at around €60 million.

This would make the Spaniard a much cheaper alternative to Douglas Luiz, the club’s other option in the defensive midfield position. And keeping that in mind, Zubimendi may even emerge as a transfer priority for Arsenal this summer.

A worry for Barça?

Arsenal’s entry in the race to sign Zubimendi is certainly a blow for Barcelona, who are desperate to get their hands on a top-quality number six.

Zubimendi, in particular, has been a long-term target for Barcelona, with Xavi Hernandez being a huge admirer of the Spanish international.

However, it must be noted that Barcelona have struggled to meet Zubimendi’s release clause for years now and the situation is unlikely to change in the coming summer.

One can even be forgiven for calling Zubimendi an unrealistic target for Barcelona this summer considering their financial hardship. As such, the Catalans are unlikely to be fazed by the prospect of the Spaniard potentially joining Arsenal this summer.