Martin Zubimendi appears set to join Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in the upcoming summer window.
The Spanish international, formerly linked with Arne Slot’s Liverpool, initially pushed aside the possibility of a switch to the Premier League last year.
The Merseysiders had been intent on securing his services, with the club keen to address what, at the time, had been viewed as a problem position in the No.6 role.
Time, instead, has been a blessing for the Reds, with a reliance on Ryan Gravenberch’s minutes this season proving to highlight the Dutchman’s aptitude for the position.
Martin Zubimendi won’t u-turn on Arsenal transfer
Fresh reports have suggested that Zubimendi has caught the eye of Spanish giants Real Madrid who are already laying the groundwork to hijack Arsenal’s deal.
However, reliable journalist David Ornstein has refuted such claims, noting that the Gunners are still ‘expecting’ the deal to get over the line at the end of the season.
“Without wanting to discredit the reporting of others, Blair, I personally haven’t heard this,” the reporter responded in The Athletic’s Q&A session.
“Arsenal are expecting Zubimendi to join in the summer. I don’t know if that means it is completely done but for some time now they have been working on the basis that he will be coming in and a huge amount of work went into getting them to that point – while Edu was still in position as sporting director and subsequently when Jason Ayto took over on an interim basis.
“Andrea Berta will be starting soon as Edu’s permanent successor, so we will hopefully learn as bit more on that and other areas in due course.”
Liverpool fans could be forgiven for perhaps having hoped that any transfer manoeuvers coming from the Bernabeu might inspire a second attempt from Richard Hughes over at the AXA centre.
Unfortunately, barring any late change of heart from the Euros winner, it very much seems this is Arsenal’s transfer to lose.
What are Liverpool’s alternatives?
Let’s put Zubimendi to one side and focus on our realistic avenues of action this summer.
First off, let’s appreciate that signing a new holding midfielder is not going to be high up on the priority list – it’ll come after a new forward, defender, and, quite possibly, a new fullback.
Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller might represent an intriguing option and Liverpool are known to be interested in the footballer whose £30.2m release clause kicks in come 2026.
It might not even come in the form of a new signing given that we already possess a supremely talented, if raw, option within the ranks in Stefan Bajcetic (currently on loan with Las Palmas).
An average ranking of 6.74/10 in La Liga (via Sofascore) this term indicates the midfielder is far from being the finished article – though we’d hardly expect him to be at 20 years of age!
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Liverpool stop penny pinching you owe the Fans a big Window Hulsen CH 50 million Van Heccken 50 million Kerkez 50. million that’s the Defence for year’s to come With Tsimakas 15 Kellegher 45 million Quansah 20 million And u can keep or sell Gomez all 5 at the back under 23 _VVD 3.man defence with Frimpong Kerkez wing backs Macca and Szobo holding midfielder Cherki of Lyon tore England u21s to pieces Friday night and a Premier league team Lewis Elliott of Forest all playing well he looked a different level 21 at midfielder assist and goals, Isak Oshimen, up front with Frimpong Kerkez whipping balls into the box or Szobo or Macca playing little give and go’s and all very young would only need one top addition every Summer Saving the Club a Fortune over the years because prices are just going up and up Sell Nunez Jota that’s another 100ml So that’s 200 million from sales Isak and Oshimen are going to fire us to many a final, Or else get Isak Salah Gapko We need to strike now while we’re in a transition where we spend 300 million along with sales generated and Trents 10 million a year, goes elsewhere say Pay Salah and VVD with it, David is available on a Free Top class striker Use Nunez in any swap deal Gomes Nunez and 50 million for Isak Cherki 50 million and Lyon are desperate for money he is on another Level and if ur selling Diaz ur making a profit and getting A younger better Passer and Finisher than Diaz, I love Diaz but if need be do it, Jones 40 million Endo 15 million we need one player that’s has what both of them have World class ability We have money FSG and the fans no it not saying my way is best way but it is a way of securing our Club’s Future Husjen Spanish CH even Tah why not spend the money on the club Adidas money also