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Zubimendi to Atlético? Arsenal demand a sky-high fee
Rubén Uría rules out a permanent transfer and sees a loan as the only possibility
Rubén Uría puts a figure on the Zubimendi rumour: €75m
Álex Baena said he would love to have Zubimendi alongside him, but Rubén Uría has cooled the rumour: there is no offer and no contact, Arsenal want between €75m and €80m, and Atlético de Madrid do not have that money. Only a loan would be feasible.
After hearing Álex Baena say he wished Martín Zubimendi could join, Rubén Uría set out to report on the situation of the Arsenal midfielder.
Right now there is absolutely nothing between Atlético de Madrid and Zubimendi. The interest is understandable because he is a great player, but there is no offer, no movement and no talks with Arsenal. He says the same about Mikel Merino: interest, yes; a formal offer, no; and, as far as he knows, no contact either.
He does acknowledge, however, that Zubimendi is having a tough time in London. He is not playing, he is not comfortable, he has had clashes with Mikel Arteta and there is talk of him leaving. But Arsenal, he reports, want €75m, possibly even €80m. That is a fortune Atlético de Madrid cannot afford for now.
The only route he can see is a loan, should the player want to leave. Arsenal, for their part, would let him go if the aim is to stop his value from dropping. He also points out that Atlético already have Hjulmand, Cardoso, Koke, Barrios and plenty of others in that position.