Real Madrid’s drive to fill their squad with more Spanish players has seen them try to hijack Arsenal’s deal to sign Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi this summer, according to a report.

The reigning La Liga champions are surprisingly short on homegrown talent.

Veteran full-back Lucas Vazquez is the only Spanish first-team regular. Left-back Fran Garcia has been afforded 15 league starts this term and academy graduate Raul Asencio is growing in stature with each outing – although his continued involvement is a result of long-term injuries to Eder Militao (a Brazil international) and David Alaba (Austria).

Carlo Ancelotti has only handed 5,400 league minutes to Spanish players this season – comfortably the lowest of any team throughout La Liga. Barcelona’s Spanish contingent, for comparison, have amassed 18,200 minutes.

Zubimendi would help address that imbalance. The Basque defensive midfielder came on for an injured Rodri in the final of Euro 2024 last summer and is once again a key fixture in Luis de la Fuente’s squad for March’s Nations League quarter-finals.

Madrid “want” Zubimendi as part of a summer drive to revitalise the current squad according to AS. Arsenal are also keen on the 26-year-old.

The Gunners thought they had won the competitive race for Zubimendi by agreeing to trigger the €60m (£50m) release clause in his contract. Liverpool and Manchester City had also been tracking the in-demand Spaniard yet while their interest appears to have faded, Madrid haven’t been deterred. However, Real are said to be “wary” of matching Arsenal’s hefty offer.

Beyond Zubimendi, Madrid are also tracking Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen. The Amsterdam-born centre-back earned his first senior Spain call-up this month and was very complimentary about reported interest from Real. The 19-year-old target for Manchester United and Chelsea would also be available for around £50m.