'Keep an eye on that one': Liverpool could well move to sign £51m player in January - journalist
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Martin Zubimendi’s decision to snub Liverpool’s advances in favour of staying at Real Sociedad threw a spanner into the works of Arne Slot’s transfer plans.
The elegant midfielder – who featured in the Euro 2024 final as Spain got their hands on the trophy – emerged as the Dutchman’s top target for the number six role.
Liverpool were willing to trigger Zubimendi’s £51m release clause after the European Championships, but it quickly became clear that he wasn’t ready to part ways with his boyhood club.
The Reds refrained from pursuing a replacement and Slot has opted to use Ryan Gravenberch as his number six, which has proved to be an inspired call as the Dutchman has been phenomenal at the start of the season.
However, if reports are to be believed, the Reds haven’t completely shut the door on snapping up the Spaniard in the future.
Liverpool could return for Zubimendi in January
Zubimendi was tipped to sign a new contract at Real Sociedad after rejecting advances from Liverpool, but so far, such claims have yet to come to fruition.
With Sociedad struggling in La Liga this season, David Lynch feels Zubimendi could be faced with a transfer decision to make in January if their position in the league table doesn’t improve.
"He still hasn't signed that contract, so keep an eye on that one,” said Lynch on Anfield Agenda’s YouTube channel.
Read More:Real Sociedad president reveals what Martin Zubimendi 'understood' about a transfer to Liverpool
“Come January, he could have a decisive moment knowing where Sociedad's season is heading. Nobody from Liverpool has told me that bridges have been burned."
Liverpool have played the waiting game before
The Reds have shown with their transfer policy over the years that they would be willing to break the bank and wait as long as it takes if the right player comes along.
Read More: What's really likely to happen with Liverpool and Martin Zubimendi in January
After missing out on Virgil van Dijk in the summer of 2017, they showed no hesitation in paying a premium to snap him up six months later for a then world-record fee of £75m.
As for Zubimendi, he has a release clause of £51m which Liverpool were willing to trigger in the summer.
Their interest is unlikely to have cooled in such a short period and if they get signals from Zubimendi that he is willing to make the switch to Anfield, they could well launch a move to sign him in January or in the summer of 2025.
