Arsenal head into the international break six points clear at the top of the Premier League.

But behind the scenes, some big decisions are coming over the next couple of transfer windows.

According to Diario AS, Arsenal need to raise funds, with contract renewals planned for their most important players, including Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber. Several players could be sold as a result, and Atletico Madrid are looking to capitalise on that, with one midfielder emerging as a serious target.

Atletico Madrid interested in Martin Zubimendi

Indeed, Atletico are one of the main clubs interested in Martin Zubimendi. It’s not the first time they’ve looked at him — the Spanish club explored a move while he was still at Real Sociedad, even contacting his representatives, but by then he’d already agreed to join Arsenal in a deal reportedly worth around £55million.

Zubimendi played in every Premier League game last season as Arsenal won the title. This season, though, things have been very different. Bruno Guimaraes’ arrival and Myles Lewis-Skelly’s emergence in midfield have pushed him down the pecking order, and according to AS he’s managed just 380 minutes across 12 games. His only full 90 came against Slavia Prague.

AS say Atletico have two things in their favour that could help smooth the deal: the good relationship between the two clubs following the Julian Alvarez talks, and Zubimendi’s desire to feel important again. It would make him the third Arsenal player linked with Atletico in recent weeks, after Mikel Merino and Viktor Gyokeres.

Should Arsenal sell Martin Zubimendi?

As we said when Merino was linked with Atletico, Zubimendi feels the more likely of the two to leave. He’s still a top player, and he’s bound to be frustrated with how little he’s played after such an important first season in north London.

Selling in January would be a risk, though. If one of the midfielders ahead of him gets injured, he suddenly becomes an important player again, and Arsenal would be left short in the second half of the season.

But if Arsenal really do need to sell, and it helps them bring in an attacker or two, then it would have to be done. The same goes for Gyokeres. If Arsenal want to sign a new striker, he’s another player they should be looking to move on.