Liverpool transfer news: Zubimendi ‘torn’ over move as £21m alternative emerges

Liverpool have been very quiet in the summer transfer window compared to some of their rivals in the Premier League.

While Manchester United have dropped £150million to sign four new players, the Reds are yet to make a single signing. Arne Slot is understood to want a new No.6 for his midfield, but no deals have been completed yet, with Martin Zubimendi dragging his feet at Real Sociedad.

The biggest transfer involving Liverpool so far has been the £27.5million sale of Fabio Carvalho to Brentford. And it seems another youngster could be on the way out the door, with Bobby Clark the subject of a £10m bid from Red Bull Salzburg.

But things haven’t ground to a halt yet – and there are still two weeks until the window closes on August 31. With that in mind, here are the latest headlines and rumours involving Liverpool.

Liverpool’s pursuit of Zubimendi has become quite the soap opera, with the Spanish midfielder making a dramatic U-turn to reject the move after already telling Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes he was keen.

He was Liverpool’s number one target and they were willing to pay his £51m release clause. Spanish newspaper El Diario Vasco have reported that Liverpool will make a final take-it-or-leave-it offer to tempt him – and former Liverpool and Real Sociedad player John Aldridge has given his take on the situation.

"Martin Zubimendi will have been torn in two about whether to move to Liverpool or not. It’s all very political, we don’t know what’s been said behind-closed-doors," Aldridge wrote in his column for the Liverpool Echo.

"He has had Liverpool in one ear and Real Sociedad in the other. It's hard when you're in this situation because you're a Sociedad fan, he loves the club.”

Liverpool could move for Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone if Zubimendi doesn't join from Real Sociedad.

Kone was strongly linked with Liverpool last summer and is available for around £21million (€25m) according to Sky Sports Germany. The midfielder still has two years left on his contract but is expected to leave this summer after playing for France at the Olympics.

He wants to play in the Champions League in order to break into the France senior team and is pushing hard for a transfer.

Giorgi Mamardashvili has surprised senior figures at Valencia by having his head turned by Liverpool. Spanish outlet Superdeporte reports that Valencia had expected Mamardashvili to stay put this summer after receiving assurances from his entourage about his plans.

But the Georgia goalkeeper has been seduced by the long contract worth €4m (£3.42m) per year being offered by Liverpool – and is happy to head to Bournemouth on loan in order to gather experience too. He has been identified by Liverpool as the future successor for Alisson.

It seems there is still some work to do, however, with Valencia asking for €40m (£34m) for his services. Reports for Spain do say, though, that the two parties are ‘destined’ to find a compromise.