1 winner and 3 losers if Real Madrid sign Martín Zubimendi from Arsenal

Could Real Madrid make a key signing, 18 months later than perhaps they should have done? Since the end of the Casemiro, Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos era, los Blancos have lacked the midfield balance that made them truly great during the three-peat years.

Thus, when he was appointed in the summer of 2025, Xabi Alonso made Martín Zubimendi his top target, only to be informed that the then-Real Sociedad man was on his way to Arsenal. Well, following the rise of Myles Lewis-Skelly, and the signing of Bruno Guimarães, Zubimendi has fallen down Mikel Arteta's pecking order, leading to rumours that Real Madrid could reignite their interest.

Were the 27 year old to swap North London for the Bernabéu, who would be the winners and losers in los Merengues' team?

Loser: Bernardo Silva

In recent weeks, José Mourinho has discovered his best lineup, leading to eight successive victories in-between the two international breaks. Very much at the heart of this is the newly-formed midfield pairing of Aurélien Tchouaméni alongside Bernardo Silva.

The new Portuguese national team captain has started the last three La Liga matches, having been on the bench for the previous four. However, were Zubimendi to arrive, one would assume that Silva would be the man to make way.

Winner: Arda Güler

One player who has truly flourished in recent weeks is Arda Güler. He scored a stunning free-kick for Türkiye against Belgium in İzmir on Thursday, having been dazzling in a Real Madrid shirt too, scoring four times and registering seven assists, leading La Liga for all chance creation metrics.

Under Alonso, Güler was deployed deeper, as he attempted to turn him into the new Kroos. Mourinho though recognises that the 21 year old is at his best further forward. Well, Zubimendi's potential arrival would end that as a possibility, providing Güler with a platform on which to shine.

Loser: Fede Valverde

Fede Valverde once infamously said "I wasn't born to play full-back", when Alonso was playing him there last season, an experiment that was quickly shelved. Now though, the Uruguayan has found himself back at right-back, deployed there so that Mourinho can get Valverde, Tchouaméni and Silva all on the pitch at the same time. Were they to sign Zubimendi, that would simply be another player vying for midfield starts.

Loser: Trent Alexander-Arnold

On a similar note, when a club boasts both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Denzel Dumfries, no one forecast that neither would be first-choice by mid-November. That though is the reality with, as outlined, Valverde very much Mourinho's pick at right-back, leaving the other two in reserve.

If this trend continues, it feels like Alexander-Arnold's time in the Spanish capital is going to come to an end, so the last thing he needs is another reason for Mourinho to deploy Valverde at right-back.

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