Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi is attracting interest from Chelsea, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, with all three clubs monitoring his situation before the January window opens.

Metro reports that Chelsea have revived their interest in the Spaniard, having been among the sides to ask about him last summer, when he stayed at the Emirates. Citing The Independent, Metro adds that the three suitors suspect a deal in January could be achievable.

Atletico's long-standing interest

Atletico's pursuit is the most established. According to reports in Spain highlighted by Arseblog News, the Madrid club are interested again after courting Zubimendi during his time at Real Sociedad. Diario AS, as relayed by Arsenal Insider, says Atletico explored a move back then and contacted his representatives, only to find he had already agreed to join Arsenal.

Arsenal Insider reports that AS believes Atletico have two factors working in their favour: a healthy working relationship between the two clubs built during the summer talks over Julian Alvarez, and Zubimendi's wish to feel important again.

Why his minutes have dropped

Zubimendi's first season in England began strongly. Arseblog News remembers that Mikel Arteta saw him as Thomas Partey's long-term replacement and convinced him to reject Liverpool in 2025, and that during his first six months he was among Arsenal's most impressive players, featuring alongside Declan Rice.

The workload told in the second half of the campaign. According to Metro, he appeared tired, fell out of the lineup, and was replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly, then 19, who began the Champions League final. Arseblog News points out that Lewis-Skelly retained his place while Arsenal claimed the title, and that Zubimendi also handed Manchester United a goal in the 3-2 loss in January before finding the net in back-to-back matches.

Competition has since grown. Arsenal paid Newcastle £75m for Bruno Guimaraes in the summer, according to Metro, while Arseblog News points to Mikel Merino's return to fitness. Metro states that Zubimendi has yet to make his first Premier League start this season, while Arseblog News calculates his league playing time at 100 minutes over the first 10 matches, with an ankle issue compounding matters. AS, via Arsenal Insider, gives a different figure of 380 minutes over 12 games, with his only full 90 coming against Slavia Prague.

Arsenal's stance

Arteta has publicly backed the midfielder. Metro reports that the manager continues to regard Zubimendi as a "valuable option", and Arseblog News remembers that Arteta rejected talk he might depart near the close of the summer window.

Arsenal Insider reports that AS says Arsenal must generate money, with new contracts planned for Rice, Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber, and that this could lead to the sale of several players. Arseblog News notes Zubimendi is under contract until 2030, meaning there is little pressure to sell, and raises the question of whether Arsenal might recoup the roughly £60m they spent on him. Metro and Arseblog News both put that fee at about £60m from Real Sociedad in 2025, while Arsenal Insider says the deal was reportedly worth around £55m.

Any sale would carry risk. Arsenal Insider points out that an injury to one of the midfielders ahead of him would quickly make him important again, leaving the squad short for the second half of the season.

Photo: Martin Addison via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0, resized.