Arsenal will face significant opposition from Bayern Munich in their quest to land Martin Zubimendi, with Harry Kane desperate for the Bundesliga holders to do all they can to defend their title.
Bayern sit second in the table after 10 matches, despite being unbeaten, with Kane already bagging three hat-tricks. They sit behind Bayer Leverkusen, who have 28 points from a possible 30.
Kane has already missed out on his first potential trophy, with Bayern losing to RB Leipzig in the DFB-Supercup. He has made clear his desires, though, with trophies one of the key driving forces behind his move to Germany after he came close on multiple occasions with former team Tottenham.
"Ultimately, I wanted to be playing at the highest level, to be playing in the Champions League, fighting for titles every year," Kane said upon joining his current club. "Coming to Bayern, one of the biggest clubs in the world, gives me that opportunity."
Kane was one of several summer signings for Thomas Tuchel's side, who only sealed the title on the final day of last season. Kim Min-jae and Raphael Guerreiro have also moved to the Allianz Arena, but the Bavarian side are also in the market for a defensive midfielder.
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Zubimendi is the newest name on their list, according to Sportbild. The Real Sociedad star is under contract with his current employers until 2027, and has shown few signs of being desperate to leave, but has a release clause of £51m.
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Arsenal aren't the only side to look at Martin Zubimendi (Ricardo Larreina/REX/Shutterstock)Bayern's search for midfield reinforcements saw them test the water with a bid for Joao Palhinha at the end of the summer transfer window. The Portugal international ultimately stayed at Fulham, though, and went on to score a late equaliser for Marco Silva's side in their Premier League game away to Arsenal.
Arsenal's own interest in Zubimendi comes amid continued uncertainty over the future of Thomas Partey. The Ghanaian international has fallen down the pecking order in north London and is on Juventus' radar, though the Bianconeri have also kept tabs on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Kalvin Phillips.
The Gunners are said to have reignited their interest in the Spain international in October, having failed to secure his signing in the January transfer window. Barcelona have also been linked in the past, though they added Ilkay Gundogan and Oriol Romeu to their midfield ranks over the summer after losing long-serving star Sergio Busquets.
"He (Zubimendi) is a more physical and faster player than Busquets, who is technically better," Barca boss Xavi said of the midfielder before Barca beat La Real in the Copa del Rey in January. "But not only Zubimendi, all of Real Sociedad’s midfield players. We are playing a great team and Zubimendi is a great footballer."
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