Arsenal looks to Atlético for Zubimendi's replacement
The Spanish midfielder is one of Mikel Arteta's discards for the winter market.
The Arsenal is planning the sale of Martín Zubimendi in the winter market to finance the signing of Álex Baena, a winger from Atlético de Madrid valued at 80 million euros. Real Madrid is the main candidate to sign the Spanish midfielder from the Gunner team.
According to journalist Ekrem Konur, the London club is looking to strengthen its left flank with the 25-year-old attacker, whose immediate departure faces opposition from the Madrid entity.
The loss of prominence of Martín Zubimendi triggers his departure from Arsenal
Martín Zubimendi, a 27-year-old midfielder, joined Arsenal in July 2025 from Real Sociedad for 60 million pounds (70 million euros). After playing in the 38 matches of the Premier League in his first season, his participation decreased in the 2026/27 campaign due to the signing of Bruno Guimarães and the emergence of homegrown player Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The team managed by Mikel Arteta is leading the English league with eight victories in nine matches and has three wins in three matchdays of the Champions League after beating 1-2 against Slavia Prague. Despite this collective record, the British board is considering transferring the midfielder to provide liquidity to their budget and make a costly signing in attack.
Atlético de Madrid demands 80 million euros for Álex Baena
The top priority of Arsenal is Álex Baena, a player acquired by Atlético de Madrid in July 2025 after registering 14 assists in the Spanish league with Villarreal. The winger has five goals and four assists this season under the direction of Diego Pablo Simeone, who has halted any transfer during the January 2027 transfer window.
The contract of Baena with Atlético de Madrid extends until June 2030, a factor that strengthens the contractual demand from the Metropolitano. The Rojiblanco board will not accept negotiations below 80 million euros, forcing the English sports management to structure a financial proposal without room for negotiation.
Direct competition from Manchester City and Bayern Munich
The signing of the Spanish international attacker does not solely depend on the finances of Arsenal. Both Manchester City and Bayern Munich are formally monitoring Álex Baena for a potential incorporation starting from the 2027/28 season, which will require presenting a binding contractual proposal before the current fiscal year ends.
The next move by Arsenal will be defined during the first half of December 2026, when their emissaries receive formal offers from European clubs interested in Martín Zubimendi to determine if they meet the amount required by Atlético de Madrid or if they delay their pursuit of Baena until July 2027.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El Arsenal busca en el Atlético al sustituto de Zubimendi