Arsenal face another blow following their loss to Newcastle as concerns grow over a potential hijack of their move for Martín Zubimendi.

Arsenal’s pursuit of Real Sociedad midfielder Martín Zubimendi has hit a potential setback, making his move to the Emirates increasingly uncertain.

The 26-year-old has attracted interest from several top European clubs, including Manchester City, Liverpool, and Real Madrid, following his impressive performances for Sociedad and his key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory.

Earlier reports suggested Arsenal had won the race for Zubimendi, with claims in January that they had agreed on a deal for him to join at the end of the season. The Daily Mail even stated that the Gunners were set to trigger his £51 million release clause, with the transfer reportedly “virtually completed.”

It was believed Arsenal had pulled off a major coup by beating Liverpool and Madrid to his signature. However, no official announcement has been made, and his move to London now seems far from guaranteed.

According to Spanish journalist Mario Cortegana, Zubimendi remains in discussions with Real Madrid, with growing talks about a potential move to the Bernabéu. Madrid has previously hijacked Premier League targets, including Aurélien Tchouaméni and Jude Bellingham, who were both linked with Liverpool before joining the Spanish giants.

When asked about his future in November, Zubimendi remained tight-lipped, stating that transfer rumors were inevitable but that he preferred to ignore external speculation.

Arsenal will be eager not to miss out on Zubimendi, especially after a frustrating January transfer window in which they failed to secure a much-needed striker. They had been linked with Ollie Watkins but ultimately decided against meeting Aston Villa’s £60 million valuation.

Their attacking struggles were evident on Wednesday, as Newcastle eliminated them from the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 semi-final second-leg victory, sealing a 4-0 aggregate win. Newcastle will now face either Liverpool or Tottenham in the final, with Spurs leading 1-0 ahead of the second leg at Anfield.

Meanwhile, Arsenal find themselves out of both domestic cup competitions and will not play again until their Premier League clash with Leicester on February 15.