According to Mundo Deportivo, Madrid will have to compete with Chelsea for Zubimendi and will also have to pay Arsenal €90million (£77.1m, $104m) for the midfielder, who won the 2026 World Cup with Spain this summer.
Arsenal have paid £75million for Guimaraes, who is set to start alongside Declan Rice in midfield.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso wants to sign Zubimendi from Arsenal. Alonso worked with Zubimendi at Real Sociedad before trying to sign him during his brief spell in charge of Real Madrid. The report says Alonso is keen on taking Zubimendi to Chelsea after previously wanting him at Real Madrid. Real Madrid are also considering returning for the Spain international, potentially turning the situation into a bidding battle.
On August 1, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano said that Arsenal have no plans to sell Zubimendi, despite signing Guimaraes. Romano said on his YouTube channel: “Let me clarify something. “I saw something on social media, people saying that I said that Bruno was to upgrade Zubimendi or Bruno was to replace Zubimendi. “I never mentioned Zubimendi in any of my videos this summer. “Zubimendi is absolutely highly rated and respected at Arsenal. “They are also different players, so nothing about Zubimendi, this is about Bruno Guimaraes and Arsenal advancing very, very well.”
Arsenal brought Zubimendi to the club only last summer, securing his services from Real Sociedad in a transfer worth just over the £51million release clause contained within his contract at the Spanish outfit. Madrid had shown a desire to sign Zubimendi a year ago, yet Arsenal succeeded in pipping the La Liga heavyweights to the 27-year-old's signature. Zubimendi proved instrumental in Arsenal's achievements last season, featuring in 57 appearances across all competitions and contributing to the Gunners' Premier League title triumph and their run to the Champions League final — despite his involvement gradually reducing as the season progressed.