Manchester City are ready to make a move for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, according to Relevo.com.
The Spanish website reports that the Premier League champions are “preparing the ground” to approach the 25-year-old.
It is believed that the Cityzens are keen to recruit a replacement for the injured Rodri “as soon as possible” and they have identified his Spanish international teammate as their preferred target.
A deal during the January transfer window looks on the cards, although there are some obstacles in the way of the transfer going ahead.
Zubimendi has already rejected 2 other Premier League clubs
Arsenal were the first English club to make an attempt to sign the midfielder last January. They were said to be prepared to pay Zubimendi’s release clause but the player made it clear that he wanted to stay in San Sebastian.
Liverpool made an even more concerted effort to persuade the player during the summer transfer window. The Reds thought they had their man, only for Zubimendi to make a U-Turn. Speaking about the situation earlier this month, the Spaniard said:
“It is true that there was a lot of noise. I went through uncomfortable moments. The best thing for me was to stay here and I am happy and at peace. There is a lot of noise because of the press but in the end everything is easier than all that.”
How much would City have to pay for him?
The buyout fee in Zubimendi’s contract currently stands at €60m (£50m) so Pep Guardiola’s side would have no issues in terms of negotiating with Real Sociedad.
However, there is a lot of work to do in terms of persuading the player. The fact that he has not signed a new contract following the collapse of his move to Liverpool does give some hope that he could be open to a transfer, but it’s still a long shot.
Find out who is in Manchester City’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here
