Arsenal have already got the ball rolling with regards to their summer transfer business as a deal with Martin Zubimendi was agreed this week.
Ian Wright and Chris Sutton have both said that recruitment has been a major issue at Arsenal over the past 12 months.
Now, Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has already set about putting things right.
On Saturday, Arsenal sources confirmed to TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey that Arsenal had reached agreement with Zubimendi.
In doing so, Arsenal have done something that Wright said “better happen” this summer, the Highbury legend having already delivered his verdict on Martin Zubimendi.
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Ian Wright said Martin Zubimendi to Arsenal ‘better happen’
Last September, Wright spoke highly of Zubimendi – who turned down a move to Liverpool last summer – during a discussion with Owen Hargreaves.
Wright claimed that Liverpool could win the Champions League with a player like the Spain international.
Hargreaves said: “To win the Champions League, they need a Rodri.
“Well, not a Rodri because he will probably win the Ballon d’Or, but they need somebody top level, and if they get that I think they could win everything.”
In response, Wright added: “If they could get Zubimendi, he’s the one you think could be that guy, I think he could be that guy.”
Fast-forward to February, and Wright said he wanted Arsenal to get a deal for Zubimendi over the line in the summer window.
“I’m hoping that Zubimendi comes to us, to be honest,” Wright said on Wrighty’s House, before speaking about the Spaniard later on in the show.
“How much do they want us to get back to the mountain top and stay there? Because at the moment, I’m worried about the recruitment. I’m worried about recruitment,” Wright said.
“So we need, I need to see a sporting director come in. And I need to hear some, like you mentioned Zubimendi. That better happen as far as I’m concerned.
“Listen, all I have to say, I’m leaving it at that. Like, I have faith, I have faith.”
It looks like Berta has made Wright’s wish come true.
When could Martin Zubimendi join Arsenal?
TBR Football sources say discussions have been ongoing for a number of months but they accelerated following the arrival of Berta.
We can also confirm that Berta has spoken with Sociedad this week to discuss the terms of a potential deal.
Zubimendi has a release clause of €60million (£51million) and arrangements are now being made on payment.
Should Arsenal get the deal fully over the line, then Zubimendi could potentially join as early as the start of June.
This year’s summer transfer window will open early – between Sunday June 1 and Tuesday June 10 – due to an exceptional registration period for the expanded Club World Cup.
All Premier League clubs are free to do business during the earlier window, not just Club World Cup participants Chelsea and Manchester City.
After closing, the transfer window will then open again on Monday June 16 until Deadline Day on Monday September 1.
