'Really careful': Fabrizio Romano shares why he can't say Martin Zubimendi to Arsenal is done yet
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Arsenal look to be close to making their first signing of 2025 in the shape of Martin Zubimendi.
Zubimendi has been linked to Arsenal in recent days with a view to joining the Gunners in the summer.
Zubimendi to Arsenal has been labelled a done deal by some, but it would appear as though those reports are a tad premature.
Indeed, according to Fabrizio Romano, speaking on his YouTube channel, this deal can't be considered done yet.
Romano says that Martin Zubimendi still loves Real Sociedad, so you have to be very careful around this situation as the Spaniard could change his mind.
Liverpool wanted Zubimendi last summer, but an 11th hour change of heart scuppered that deal.
Fabrizio Romano shares Martin Zubimendi update
Romano shared what he knows about Zubimendi.
The journalist says that Arsenal are confident of doing a deal, but, as of right now, he's not in a position to claim this is a done deal.
"It's a work in progress also for Martin Zubimendi. As of today I'm still not in a position to tell you here we go or that the deal is done," Romano said.
"With Zubimendi, you'll remember last summer with Liverpool were advanced and close, but the player changed his mind and decided to continue with Real Sociedad.
"With Zubimendi you have to be really careful because the player, we have to respect that he loves his city, his country, his family, his club, he has a fantastic relationship there, so it's not easy but Arsenal are working on that and Arsenal are confident."
How Martin Zubimendi feels about leaving Real Sociedad
This deal may take a while to confirm as Zubimendi has often had cold feet about leaving his boyhood club.
Zubimendi has remained loyal to Real Sociedad over the years, and according to Steve Kay, Zubimendi doesn't care about signing for a big club.
"According to people I've been talking to he's a strange man, he's a strange character," Kay said.
"He's someone who doesn't care about playing for teams like Liverpool, Man Utd and Arsenal. He's happy to play where he is, finish fourth, fifth or sixth. He loves where he lives and that's him. The Matt Le Tissier of La Liga I suppose.”
Some players don't have the ambition to join a huge club and spread their horizons.
As Kay says, Matt Le Tissier remained loyal to Southampton throughout his career, while someone like Francesco Totti could've won so many more trophies if he'd left Roma.
Zubimendi appears to be cut from a similar cloth, but whether or not he does eventually decide to leave Real Sociedad remains to be seen.
Arsenal are favourites to sign Zubimendi, but a deal won't be straightforward.
