Arsenal's executive hierarchy has signaled a complete willingness to greenlight a January transfer deal for Martin Zubimendi, opening the door for the Spanish midfielder to exit Emirates Stadium just six months after his high-profile €70 million arrival from Real Sociedad.

Reports originating from Spain indicate that the Gunners' leadership is actively preparing to balance their financial books following an expansive summer spending spree that brought in high-cost talent including Bruno Guimarães, Ezri Konsa, and Christos Tzolis.

Zubimendi’s situation in North London has grown increasingly complicated after the 27-year-old failed to break into Mikel Arteta’s primary starting eleven.

Having not started a single Premier League match during the opening months of the 2026/27 campaign, the Basque playmaker has seen his standing fall behind Guimarães and Declan Rice in Arteta’s tactical pecking order.

With the player keen to secure regular first-team football to protect his international standing, discussions regarding an early winter departure have gathered significant momentum.

La Liga heavyweights Atletico Madrid have emerged as the primary frontrunners to secure Zubimendi’s signature when the transfer window opens in January.

Head coach Diego Simeone has maintained a long-standing admiration for the Spanish international, dating back to his time at Real Sociedad, and views Zubimendi as the ideal central anchor to transform Atletico's midfield engine room for the second half of the season.

Arsenal’s sporting directorate has established a firm negotiation position, insisting that no deal will be sanctioned unless Atletico Madrid meet their full valuation to recoup the €70 million fee expended last summer.

While Atletico’s board is under pressure to deliver high-caliber mid-season reinforcements, meeting that valuation would make Zubimendi the fourth-most expensive signing in the Spanish club's history, behind only João Félix, Julián Álvarez, and Thomas Lemar.

As the November international break comes to a close, internal discussions between all parties are expected to accelerate rapidly.

Whether Atletico Madrid can structure a financial package that satisfies Arsenal’s demands will remain one of the premier storylines governing the lead-up to the winter transfer window.

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