Arsenal prepare double-money deal to beat Liverpool to Xabi Alonso protege

Arsenal are preparing to make a contract offer to Real Sociedad midfielder and Liverpool transfer target Martin Zubimendi, according to a report.

Zubimendi, who has spent his entire career at Real Sociedad, has developed into one of Spain's finest deep-lying midfielders and has earned comparisons to both Sergio Busquets and his former coach Xabi Alonso.

Earlier this year, Anfield Watch reported that Liverpool would be prepared to pay the €60m (£51m) release clause to sign the highly rated 25-year-old.

However, the Reds are not the only top side interested in Zubimendi, however.

According to Football Transfers, long-term admirers Arsenal are also prepared to activate his contractual release clause.

The Gunners interest is said to be so advanced that they are even preparing 'a wage package', which would double Zubimendi's current terms, ahead of a summer move.

Arsenal want to get an answer from Zubimendi's camp before they move on to other possible targets, with several of Europe's other elite clubs expected to be alert to the situation, including Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

A student of Alonso

Interestingly, the four-cap Spain international has a strong connection to Alonso, who is, of course, the frontrunner to succeed Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager.

When working as a coach at Real Sociedad B, Alonso took Zubimendi under this wing and guided him to the first team, where he made his debut in 2020.

When asked about the comparisons to Alonso, Zubimendi told the Guardian in 2022: “He’s an idol to me, a role model, so I’m delighted that he says nice things about me.

“The thing is, I think it’s the other way round. I get asked about him so much he must get bored of hearing me talk about him. He’ll be tired of me going on about how good he is.”

READ MORE: How Liverpool could line up under Xabi Alonso next season

Zubimendi has played a total of 182 matches for Real Sociedad's first team, netting seven goals in that period.

He played a starring role as he helped Erreala qualify for the Champions League last season where they reached the knockouts for the first time in 20 years, before losing to PSG in the round of 16.

He is also a Copa Del Rey winner and Olympic silver medalist.