Liverpool have made signing a midfielder the top priority for the summer transfer window, but know they face a difficult task in landing their number one target.
The Reds are yet to complete a transfer this summer since Arne Slot arrived to replace Jurgen Klopp. It was always expected to be a window of evolution rather than revolution at Liverpool, despite the departures of Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara and Adrian upon the expiry of their contracts.
After embarking on a pre-season tour of the USA, Liverpool have now decided that a deal needs to be made for a midfielder in the No.6 role. Liverpool signed Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch last summer yet Slot feels he needs another body after losing Thiago.
Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi has previously been courted by Arsenal, Manchester United and Barcelona, but now Liverpool have joined the queue. Zubimendi was part of the Spain squad which triumphed at Euro 2024 and has long been tipped for a move to a bigger European side.
When linked with big-money moves elsewhere, players often send out signals to subtly display their feelings. Yet, as Arsenal and Barca have already found out, their supposed ‘big club pull’ has not done the trick for Zubimendi.
The 25-year-old midfielder has spent his entire career at Real Sociedad, having been born in San Sebastian and having come through the club’s academy. He has made 188 appearances for his hometown club, has won the Copa del Rey with them, and has three years left on his contract.
He has made it clear that he is happy to stay put for now. During Euro 2024, he told El Diario Vasco : “Where am I going to play next season? I’m going to be at Real Sociedad. I have a contract with Real Sociedad and that’s where I’m most comfortable.”
There is another problem for Liverpool, too: Zubimendi’s buyout clause of €60million (£51.7m). La Real are insisting that it needs to be paid in full and up front if they are to even consider selling him – something that goes against general practice.
Clubs often structure transfers by spreading out fees in payments over a period of time. But if Liverpool want Zubimendi, they will have to send the entire amount to the players’ representatives, who will then pay Real Sociedad. In the age of profit and sustainability rules that is tricky business, especially given that Liverpool have not made any sales yet this summer either.
“The bar is really high for new signings because we have so many good players,” Slot explained recently. “It is not so easy to first find a player to meet those standards and then is he available? Then we have to find an agreement with them, so it is not always easy to find a player who can help us.
“[Sporting director] Richard [Hughes] is working hard on it and let’s see what comes from this. If he’s not here with us then we speak on the phone many times.” Hughes and his team may have their work cut out if they are to land Zubimendi.