Another big payday is on the cards for Real Sociedad with Barça pursuing Zubimendi

Another big payday is on the cards for Real Sociedad with Barça pursuing Zubimendi

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The 'txuri urdin' side are not closing the door on negotiations for the transfer of the midfielder from San Sebastian.

Barça have a clear target to reinforce the midfield position next season, with Sergio Busquets having decided to start a new adventure at MLS side Inter Miami.

Martin Zubimendi is the one chosen by the sporting management, who have studied the Real Sociedad player in detail to confirm that his abilities would perfectly suit Xavi Hernandez's requirements in that position.

The player from San Sebastian has a release clause worth 60 million euros. The 'txuri urdin' are doing well financially having sold Isak to Newcastle in the summer for 70 million euros. Their net spend shows a profit of 27.5 million euros.

However, Real Sociedad's recent success in the transfer market allows Barça to maintain a certain optimism when it comes to negotiating a lower price. The Blaugrana club are convinced that the Basque side will not stick to the termination clause and will be open to negotiating the departure of Zubimendi.

There are many precedents to back this up.

Isak himself had a clause of 90 million euros, but there are other cases.

For example, a couple of years ago, Diego Llorente was transferred to Leeds for 20 million euros, when his release fee was 50 million euros.

PSG paid 16 million for Yuri Berchiche in 2017, a much lower amount than the 30 million euros of his clause.

In 2004, Liverpool were even spared from paying the 45 million euros termination clause of Xabi Alonso, who ended up at Anfield for 16 million.

Real Madrid also reduced Odriozola's 40 million euros by 8 million.

Barça secured the services of Claudio Bravo in 2014 for twelve million, less than half of the 30 million his buy-out clause was worth.

Real Sociedad have a reputation for being a tough club to crack, but they have also shown themselves to be pragmatic and open to reaching solutions that satisfy all parties.

This is also demonstrated by the transfer of Griezmann to Atlético. In this case, the 'colchoneros' did pay the 30 million euros of the clause but covered part of it with a 20% future sale stake.

The club presided over by Jokin Aperribay will not make it easy for Zubimendi to play at the Camp Nou, but recent history shows that they would be willing to sit at the table to negotiate.

A position that allows Barça to be optimistic.

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