Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi regrets rejecting Liverpool, hoping that the Reds will return for him in the January window. Liverpool targeted Zubimendi as the priority signing during the summer to bolster their number six position for the current season.
Liverpool have used previous transfer windows to sign a long-term number six option suitable to their tactical style of play. Under the legendary manager Jurgen Klopp, they tried to sign Aurelien Tchouameni, Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo but continuously failed.
Tchouameni joined Real Madrid to play alongside the star-studded squad with a lucrative contract that the Spanish giants provide easily. Whereas, Lavia and Caicedo joined the high-spending Chelsea as the Reds could not financially compete with such risk-taking rival clubs.
Since Klopp’s reign, Liverpool have faced a drastic change in tactics which changes the profile of a defensive midfielder required. Under the new head coach Arne Slot, a player of Zubimendi’s profile fits perfectly instead of a textbook defensive midfielder.
However, the Spanish international opted to stay with his childhood club after the assurances of a lucrative contract for loyalty. While Liverpool also offered a lucrative contract compared to his current one with Sociedad, the 25-year-old chose loyalty over ambition.
Despite the outrage of the fanbase after another failure to sign a number six, Liverpool decided against signing an alternative. The Reds have always opted to use patience over making any unwanted panic buy with the squad quality near impeccable.
According to the Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo, Zubimendi wants Liverpool to sign him from Sociedad during the January transfer window. The 25-year-old is unhappy with Sociedad after their poor start this season and failure to provide a new lucrative contract. The Spaniard currently earns €57,692 per week while his release clause is worth 60 million euros which remains a bargain for a player of Zubimendi’s quality
Furthermore, the Spaniard’s childhood club allowed the departure of Robin LeNormand and Mikel Merino which hampers their ambition this season. The Spanish club have lost four matches from La Liga games as they sit in 16th position.
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Meanwhile, Liverpool have won three games with a surprise loss against Nottingham Forest last weekend due to complacent team performance. Ryan Gravenberch has delivered consistently high performances as a new number six, earning praise from fans and pundits. As an unplanned alternative to Zubimendi, Gravenberch has provided Liverpool with strong leverage as the Spaniard is no longer a necessity.
