Liverpool transfer target Martin Zubimendi is a player that any coach in world football would want.
That's according to Anfield icon Xabi Alonso, who worked with the player while managing Real Sociedad's reserve side. Alonso rejected the Reds' advances when they approached him to succeed Jurgen Klopp this summer, paving the way for Arne Slot to take the reins.
The debuting Dutchman has yet to make a senior signing, but reports now suggest his side are interested in Sociedad's holding midfielder Zubimendi.
Any deal would be complicated, as the player's £51.7million release clause needs to be met in full, and the Spaniard has rebuffed Arsenal and Barcelona's approaches so far. However, Alonso holds Zubimendi in incredibly high regard, and it may be worth the Reds' time to stage a coup for the midfielder.
"Martin's a player that all coaches would want," Alonso stated in 2022 after leaving to become Bayer Leverkusen boss. "He's generous, and he always thinks more about his teammates than himself.
"He has that ability to generate play, to make those around him better, always offering solutions; to improve the move. He understands what the next step is before the ball gets to him. He has that ability to organise, the axis. I loved working with him."
Despite a lack of recruitment, Slot has enjoyed a successful start to Anfield life. His side bested Premier League runners-up Arsenal 2-1 and put rivals Manchester United to the sword 3-0 during their pre-season tour of the United States.
During these outings, and a 1-0 victory against Real Betis in Pittsburgh, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, and Wataru Endo have all played as a six - the latter having been linked with a move to Marseille.
Endo has struggled during pre-season, Gravenberch may be seen as a back-up option, and Szoboszlai may be utilised further up the pitch, so an out-and-out controlling technical six is something that could benefit Slot.
Whether Liverpool will be able to sign Zubimendi, though, is another story. Sociedad have already lost another member of Spain's Euro 2024 winning sides to Atletico Madrid this season in Robin Le Normand and Mikel Merino could join Mikel Arteta's Arsenal for £25m. Losing Zubimendi would leave their footballing spine in tatters.
"The bar is really high for new signings because we have so many good players," Slot recently admitted. "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."