Xabi Alonso urges Real Madrid to hijack £51m Arsenal transfer

Real Madrid remain in the race to sign Martin Zubimendi ahead of Arsenal (Getty)

Xabi Alonso is keen for Real Madrid to beat Arsenal to the signing of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, according to reports in Spain.

It’s understood that Arsenal are leading the race to sign Zubimendi and the Gunners are believed to view the midfielder’s arrival as a ‘done deal’ ahead of the summer transfer window.

Arsenal have indicated that they are ready to trigger the €60 million (£51m) release clause in Zubimendi’s contract with Real Sociedad, while a verbal agreement has been reached over personal terms.

However, AS report that Zubimendi’s transfer to Madrid remains a possibility as nothing is officially signed between Arsenal and Real Sociedad.

The report claims that Madrid are now considering the prospect of launching an offer to rival Arsenal, meaning that Mikel Arteta could miss out on a key midfield target this summer.

Meanwhile, Relevo report that Xabi Alonso, who is taking over from Carlo Ancelotti, has urged Madrid’s hierarchy to sign Zubimendi and has also pushed for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, who is wanted by Liverpool, Manchester City and Bayern Munich.

Xabi Alonso is already playing a key role in Real Madrid’s summer transfer strategy (AFP via Getty)

Alonso managed Zubimendi for Real Sociedad B and remains a huge admirer of the Spain international.

‘Martin’s a player all coaches would want,’ Alonso told The Guardian before becoming Bayer Leverkusen’s head coach in 2022.

‘He’s generous, he always thinks more about his teammates than himself. He has that ability to generate play, to make those around him better, always offering solutions; to improve the move. He understands what the next step is before the ball gets to him. He has that ability to organise, the axis. I loved working with him.’

Alonso is also said to have played a key role in Madrid’s move to sign Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen with Relevo reporting that the pair spoke on the phone before the £50 million transfer was confirmed on Saturday.

Huijsen, who joined Bournemouth for an initial £12.8m fee from Juventus last July, had also attracted interest from Arsenal and Chelsea but his preference was to move to Madrid.

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