Liverpool's new midfield transfer plans after Zubimendi performs surprise U-turn

Liverpool are expected to rely on their current crop of midfielders following Martin Zubimendi's transfer U-turn, rather than moving onto new targets.

Spain midfielder Zubimendi appeared to be on the verge of an Anfield move, with some at his current club Real Sociedad resigned to his departure. However, a last-minute charm offensive - led by manager Imanol Alguacil - convinced him to stay at Anoeta.

It means new manager Arne Slot is still waiting to make his first signing as Liverpool boss. He has made it clear the Reds will only be recruiting if a player can clearly improve his squad, though, and the targeting of Zubimendi came from such a mindset.

Liverpool have money to spend, with their coffers boosted by the sale of Fabio Carvalho to Brentford. However, with no obvious alternative to Zubimendi at this moment, there is reason to believe those already on board can step in to fill the role.

Liverpool lost Slot's first friendly in charge, a behind-closed-doors game against Preston, but have been unbeaten since in their pre-season campaign. Two different XIs took to the field on Sunday, one beating Sevilla and another drawing with Las Palmas.

Throughout pre-season, Slot has tried a number of different players in a deeper midfield role. Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch have all sat deeper at times, all showing their quality - even if there might be a sense they can offer something different further forward.

Szoboszlai, Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister were the midfield three against Sevilla, with the Reds 4-1 victors. The goalless draw with Las Palmas, meanwhile, saw Endo line up alongside Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott.

Mac Allister took a little longer to return to action after his exploits with Argentina at the Copa America. The 25-year-old has played as a six for the Albiceleste but has also featured further forward, and the same was true of his first Anfield season under Jurgen Klopp.

Gravenberch had a quieter summer after an up-and-down first Liverpool season, staying on the bench throughout the Netherlands' Euro 2024 campaign, but earned praise from Slot after sitting deeper in a pre-season win over Manchester United. “I think Ryan did really well in that position and we have other options as well," the manager said.

While Endo might be the more obvious of those other options, as well as the possibility of Szoboszlai or Jones dropping deep, Stefan Bajcetic can't be ignored either. The Spanish youngster endured a tough 2023-24 campaign due to injury but is available again and replaced Mac Allister for the final 15 minutes against Sevilla.

"Sometimes that also had to do with the players we had available, the ones I’ve tried there," Slot said after the Sevilla game. "I think we’ve seen mostly Wata Endo there or Ryan [Gravenberch]. And in a previous game even Dominik [Szoboszlai] was a bit lower.

"But I have quite a good idea which player suits there, at this moment in my opinion, best. But like I said, we are only one week working together with some players. So, sometimes you feel, ‘Oh, this is the best No.6’.

"But then the combination with the other two might maybe not work out that well. It’s not to say that the ones who played today will play next week or the weeks after. We are still in a situation where we are constantly evaluating which is the best team for us, which is the best line-up. And today you saw this but it’s not to say that it’s the same next week."