Liverpool poised to re-ignite pursuit of midfield game changer in January

Liverpool could revive their interest in Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi in the January transfer window

Liverpool are off to a flying start in the 2024/25 Premier League season under new boss Arne Slot.

With a perfect 100% record and no goals conceded, fans have little reason now to think why the club didn’t splash the cash on new signings in the recently concluded summer transfer window. The transfer window, while relatively subdued for the majority of the summer, saw a couple of incomings in the final days.

Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili signed on the dotted lines for a £25million fee from Valencia, but was immediately loaned back to the La Liga club on loan for the season before he returns to Anfield next summer. Meanwhile, Federico Chiesa joined from Juventus for £12.5m on transfer deadline day.

Liverpool could revive their interest in Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi in the January transfer window. — Martin Zubimendi turned down Liverpool’s offer to stay put at Real Sociedad. (Getty Images)

Despite these late acquisitions, there are still a few transfer targets like Martin Zubimendi, that both Arne Slot and the Reds are likely to keep in mind in the future. Martin Zubimendi emerged as the club’s main target in the past transfer window, with Arne Slot identifying the Real Sociedad star as the ideal No.6 to bolster the midfield unit.

However, despite Liverpool being prepared to activate the defensive midfielder’s £51million release clause, the Euro 2024 winner rejected the move. Zubimendi enjoyed a fantastic 2023/24 season at Real Sociedad and was part of the Spain squad that lifted the Euro 2024 trophy after defeating England in the final, which attracted the Merseyside giants’ interest in him.

Slot has been keen to add a new No.6 to his squad this summer, with Zubimendi fitting the criteria perfectly in his system. While Liverpool failed to lure the Spaniard to Anfield, their interest in the player hasn’t waned a bit.

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano (h/t The Express), Liverpool still appreciate Zubimendi and he is supposedly viewed as the ideal man to enhance their squad, with the transfer window reopening on January 1.

Arne Slot had identified Martin Zubimendi as the ideal No.6 to his system at Liverpool earlier this summer. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Zubimendi has become one of his boyhood club Real Sociedad’s star players in recent years and helped his team reach the last-16 of the Champions League last season, before they were eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain. The La Liga club, after desperate attempts since the end of July, managed to keep hold of the Spanish maestro from Liverpool’s clutches.

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The 25-year-old is contracted to San Sebastian until 2027 (Transfermarkt), so there’s no way Liverpool would wait until he becomes a free agent. The top bosses at the club will also have to be aware that Zubimendi’s stock will only increase and attract attention from more European clubs if he performs well this season.

That being said, the Reds have to be ready to strike in January if an opportunity arises.