Liverpool’s goalkeeper, Martín Zubimendi, made a radical change and remained at Real Sociedad.
The Reds will not sign the midfielder although they are confident that he will leave LaLiga this summer. Zubimendi, 25, has to counteract his decision and stay at the club where he has played since he was 12 years old, in order to reject the opportunity to sign for Arne Slot’s team.
This comes after a charm offensive through the Society to replace his brain, as it is understood that he was looking to move to Merseyside. Liverpool only took action for the foreigner from Spain after receiving enough indications that the player would be willing to move.
The La Liga club, however, had no interest in entering into negotiations with the Reds to reach an agreement. The midfielder was told he would have to personally pay the £51m release clause in his contract to make any moves to Liverpool and do so at La Liga offices.
This is a common practice among players in Spain. But Zubimendi on Monday that he sought to stay at his club.
Liverpool manager Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes agreed that the player complements their current midfield organization and is the profile they are looking for in the number 6 position.
The midfielder’s agent is Iñaki Ibáñez, who also represents Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola. Hughes will have looked after Ibáñez when he brought Iraola to Bournemouth last year. In his previous position, he failed to get Zubimendi over the line.
It is believed that the player made the decision to stay after serious tension at his club. The partnership didn’t desperately need to lose a big call-up in this window after promoting defender Robin Le Normand to Atletico Madrid in the summer, while midfielder Mikel Merino heads to Arsenal.
Zubimendi replaced Manchester City star Rodri at half-time of the European Championship final last month when Spain beat England. The midfielder has in the past rejected the prospect of signing for England last summer, when Arsenal were among several clubs looking to sign him.
Liverpool, at this stage, are not expected to explore other goals in midfield. Zubimendi is known as a prime target because of his profile.
They are pleased with the players at their disposal, with Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo and Curtis Jones able to play alongside Alexis Mac Allister in midfield. It is also conceivable to use Dominik Sobozslai or Trent Alexander-Arnold in this position.
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