Simeone eyes £60m Zubimendi raid as Arsenal midfielder seeks exit

Atletico Madrid are considering a January move for Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi, according to Spanish radio station RNE via SPORT, as reported by Metro Football.

Zubimendi, who joined Arsenal from Real Sociedad for £60million just 18 months ago, has not started a single Premier League match this season, with all seven of his top-flight appearances coming from the substitutes' bench.

The Spain international was central to Arsenal's title-winning campaign last term, making 34 league starts and contributing five goals and an assist, and also played a key role as the Gunners reached their second Champions League final, where they lost on penalties to PSG.

His fall down the pecking order has been attributed to a mix of injury setbacks, the resurgence of Myles Lewis-Skelly in central midfield and the summer signing of Bruno Guimaraes, with Zubimendi reportedly frustrated at the lack of minutes under Arteta.

Atletico sporting director Mateu Alemany is said to believe there remains room to strengthen Diego Simeone's squad this winter despite considerable summer investment, with Zubimendi having 'emerged as a potential target' who could become one of the window's prized arrivals if his situation at Arsenal fails to improve.

A move would reportedly not be straightforward. Atletico are understood to be aware they face competition from Real Madrid, long-standing admirers of the midfielder, as well as Chelsea, who have also been credited with interest in recent months.

Pairing Zubimendi with Pablo Barrios in central midfield is described as a 'dream come true' for Simeone, with Atletico said to be prepared to provide the necessary funds. The report also floats the possibility, described as 'not impossible', of Zubimendi's name featuring in a deal involving Julian Alvarez, though no talks over such a swap are currently under way.

Zubimendi still has three and a half years left on his Arsenal contract. Asked about his limited game-time earlier this month, Arteta insisted the midfielder remains central to his plans. 'He's a very important player for us,' Arteta told reporters. 'He's been a bit unlucky with what happened with the ankle, with the nose afterwards. He had some minutes as well, and we have options in midfield. Like anybody else, everybody has to be ready.'

Arteta added that competition for places would ultimately decide who featured. 'Everybody is going to have the chances to play. Then it's about performing and helping the team to win football matches.'

The interest from Madrid comes with Simeone's Atletico side in strong recent form, though the Argentine has just been passed over for one individual honour. Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho was named La Liga Manager of the Month for October, finishing ahead of Simeone and Pellegrino Matarazzo, as reported by Yahoo Sports. Mourinho's Real Madrid won eight consecutive matches across the period either side of the last international break, including five victories in October alone.

Any move for Zubimendi would depend on Arsenal's willingness to sanction a sale of a player with three and a half years remaining on his deal, and on how Atletico's hierarchy weighs that outlay against rival interest from Real Madrid and Chelsea when the January window opens.