What are Arsenal’s chances of landing Martín Zubimendi? How interested are Real Madrid in signing Leny Yoro? And what is Juventus’ stance regarding star midfielder Toni Kroos?
Here are the latest transfer rumors and news around the elite European football clubs.
Juventus lying in wait for Toni Kroos
Per Calciomercato, Juventus have not yet begun concrete contract discussions with Toni Kroos, whose current deal with Real Madrid will expire at the end of the 2023/24 season.
The Bianconeri are planning on waiting for Kroos’ final decision on whether he will retire, continue playing for Real Madrid, or be open to a move elsewhere.
Juve want to sign another midfielder, and they balked on several options in the winter market, including Kalvin Phillips and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. Phillips would move to West Ham on loan.
Kroos isn’t as defensive as those options, and there could be a conflict with two registas, given Manuel Locatelli is at his best in a deep-lying playmaker role.
However, the chance of signing a player of Kroos’ caliber is so rare that you can understand why Juventus would make an exception for another high-priced, aging veteran midfielder.
Juventini bristling at the idea of another one of these “free” transfers can rest easy, though, because it seems highly unlikely for Kroos to play anywhere outside Madrid anyway.
Leny Yoro is Real Madrid’s goal target
As for Real Madrid‘s own targets, MARCA reports that Los Blancos are now of the mind that they definitely want to try and sign Leny Yoro from Lille this summer.
The 18-year-old sensation has been one of the best center backs in Ligue 1 this season, breaking out for a side that is challenging for the Champions League.
Yoro is the total package at center back and could be the next big thing at the position, and that’s the caliber of player Real are always trying to invest in.
Many Madridistas are frustrated that Real did not sign a top center back in the winter after David Alaba’s ACL tear, having already lost Éder Militão to a torn ACL.
In the long term, Real Madrid always needed a top young CB anyway, because Militão needs some help over the next decade. Alaba is declining, Antonio Rüdiger isn’t elite enough to start for Madrid every week, and Nacho’s own days are numbered.
Yoro looks like the best center back money can buy on the market, though António Silva and Giorgio Scalvini are two other excellent young options for the Merengue club.
Arsenal ahead of Bayern for Martín Zubimendi
BILDs’ Tobias Altschäffl and Christian Falk say that Arsenal are currently ahead of Bayern Munich in the battle to sign Real Sociedad defensive midfielder Martín Zubimendi.
Also wanted by Barcelona, Zubimendi is the prototypical 6 in the modern game. He is consistent, shields the defense from harm, and is so exquisite with his choice of passing in the build-up phases.
Arsenal are craving this kind of talent next to Declan Rice, as the two could form a double-pivot that dominates the Premier League and allows Martin Ødegaard even more freedom to chase for goals.
Bayern are a historic club and always challenge for the Champions League title, so Arsenal being ahead of them says a ton about how far the club has come under Mikel Arteta’s stewardship.
Zubimendi, however, seems unlikely to move overall. Like manager Imanol Alguacil, Zubimendi is very loyal to Real Sociedad and is a foundational piece for the organization as an impossible-to-replace anchor point.
If he were open to leaving this summer, you’d have to figure he’d prefer a move to Bayern or Arsenal rather than a direct move within LaLiga to another UCL competitor in the Blaugrana.
Former editor of The Real Champs and Old Juve, covering Real Madrid and Juventus
