Chelsea FC are maintaining a serious interest in Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi ahead of the January transfer window. Reports from Speedline indicate the Blues could move for the 27-year-old if his situation at the Emirates Stadium does not change.
This week, the outlet stated Chelsea's recruitment team continues to track Zubimendi's status. The Spain international has found consistent starts hard to secure this season. If that pattern continues into the new year, his representatives may push for a transfer, potentially opening the door for Chelsea to submit an offer.
Why Chelsea want a new midfielder
Chelsea's interest comes amid a challenging start to the Premier League season. The squad is currently dealing with several absences in the engine room. Key players Jordan Henderson, Marco Palestra, and Moisés Caicedo are all currently sidelined, as shown on the club's injuries list. This has placed a strain on midfield options for manager Enzo Maresca. Adding a player of Zubimendi's profile, known for his defensive discipline and ball retention, would provide valuable depth and experience. The club sits fourth in the standings with six points from three games, but strengthening the squad is seen as vital to maintaining a title challenge.
What Zubimendi would bring to the squad
Martin Zubimendi is a defensive midfielder who has built his reputation at Real Sociedad before his move to North London. His skill set is built on positional intelligence, breaking up opposition play, and distributing the ball simply and effectively. At Chelsea, he would compete for a place in a midfield that has conceded seven goals in its first three league matches. His potential arrival would be part of a broader effort to solidify a defence that has shown vulnerability early in the campaign, despite an overall positive goal difference of +1.
How Chelsea's season shapes the need
Chelsea's current league position adds context to their transfer planning. They are three points behind early leaders Manchester City, demonstrating the fine margins at the top of the table. The team's recent form reads LWW, showing both resilience and room for improvement. Offensive output has been led by João Pedro, who is the top scorer with two goals in three appearances. However, reinforcing the midfield is viewed as a priority to provide a stronger platform for the attack and protect the defence, especially with a busy fixture schedule ahead.
The next test for Chelsea is a home match against Newcastle United on January 2, 2027. You can view the full schedule on the club's fixtures page. Newcastle currently sit seventh, making it a significant early-season clash at Stamford Bridge.
