Martín Zubimendi’s future at Arsenal could become a transfer market storyline as early as the winter window, but the report should be taken for what it is: a scenario tied primarily to his playing time over the coming weeks, rather than active negotiations or a formal decision by the club or the player.
According to reports from TEAMtalk, later echoed by ESPN, the Spanish midfielder could push to leave London in January if he fails to carve out a more prominent role in Mikel Arteta’s side. Zubimendi only joined Arsenal last summer, and the issue, according to the report, centers on competition within the squad: Declan Rice and Myles Lewis-Skelly are currently said to be ahead of him in the manager's pecking order.
At this stage, therefore, talk of a transfer is premature. There are no bids, figures, club-to-club contacts, or public signs of a rift. Instead, what exists is the profile of a 27-year-old player who, having secured a move to a top Premier League club, does not want to see his sporting prospects curtailed. The distinction is substantial, particularly in the January window, where rumors of discontent can quickly turn into negotiating leverage without necessarily leading to an exit.
A recent investment that Arsenal cannot take lightly
The possibility of a departure after just a few months would carry particular weight precisely because Zubimendi is a recent acquisition. For Arsenal, letting a midfielder who arrived in the summer leave in the winter would mean immediately reopening a tactical matter that the club clearly viewed as a priority. Even a potential temporary move would impact squad depth in the second half of the campaign, when domestic and European commitments make having multiple reliable midfield options essential.
Furthermore, Arteta builds much of his team's balance on the midfielders' ability to rotate duties: shielding the defense, supporting possession, joining the press, and occupying different zones depending on the match. A player may see less playing time in a given phase without automatically being excluded from the project. In a midfield containing Rice and Lewis-Skelly, and with the shifting tactical demands of a congested fixture list, minutes must be judged over several months rather than through a single lineup choice.
This is where the rumor encounters its main limitation. It is not specified whether any dissatisfaction from Zubimendi has been directly communicated, whether Arsenal is open to listening to offers, or what type of deal could satisfy all parties. The January window is still some way off, and his standing in the pecking order can shift quickly through performances, injuries, squad rotation, or different tactical requirements.
Chelsea and Real Madrid: interest to be verified, not definitive destinations
Chelsea and Real Madrid feature in the transfer narrative, mentioned as clubs that would remain keen on the Spaniard should he become available. This detail also calls for caution. Interest attributed to a club is not the same as a formal offer, and for a player under contract with a team that has only just signed him, there is a substantial gap between scouting and a concrete deal.
Chelsea is a direct Premier League rival of Arsenal: any potential talks would inevitably carry sporting consequences in addition to financial ones. Offloading a midfielder to a competitor mid-season is a move that requires highly specific circumstances. Real Madrid, meanwhile, would offer a different perspective for Zubimendi in terms of prestige and the domestic setting, but the report offers no details on whether he is a priority for the Spanish club, nor on any formal steps taken by either side.
This is why the decisive step remains internal to Arsenal. Before understanding who might make a move on the market, it will be necessary to see whether Zubimendi will consistently impact Arteta’s selections again. His appearance in the Champions League match against Napoli, cited in the report, also suggests that the player remains involved in the campaign. On its own, it is not enough to define an established role, but it makes the prospect of an imminent departure even less straightforward.
January can shift the balance, but it does not resolve all discontent
The winter window gives teams a chance to make adjustments, not a parallel market to the summer one. Clubs aiming for major targets tend to protect regular starters and valuable rotation options, unless a player’s stay has become untenable or an unmissable financial and technical opportunity arises. In Zubimendi’s case, neither condition is currently supported by the available information.
For Arsenal, how the situation is handled can also influence the message sent to the dressing room and the wider market. A squad built to compete on multiple fronts requires new signings to accept periods of competition, but it also requires clear pathways to prevent major investments from depreciating within months. For the player, meanwhile, the priority is to prove he can be a reliable solution within Arteta’s setup, without turning every omission into a transfer saga.
Between now and January, there will be no shortage of opportunities to shift the landscape. If Zubimendi regains consistency, the prospect of an exit will lose momentum and remain one of the many rumours that populate the autumn schedule. If, on the other hand, his involvement remains marginal, Chelsea, Real Madrid or other clubs could find a more concrete opening to enquire about the terms of a deal.
For now, the situation hangs between internal competition and transfer noise. What can be verified is that the midfielder has been linked with a potential exit and that two top clubs are reportedly monitoring him. Everything else will hinge on Arsenal’s decisions and Zubimendi’s ability to reclaim a central role before the winter window opens.
