'Keeping a close eye': Liverpool not out of race to sign £51m player and continue to watch him - journalist
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Liverpool are slowly running out of time to make a decisive move during the January transfer window.
The Reds have so far followed what was a quiet 2024 with a deathly silent 2025.
Things will have to pick up at some stage, with the Liverpool squad badly in need of bolstering in more than one area.
But as things stand, it looks unlikely that Arne Slot will have any new faces to work with by the time the deadline passes on February 3rd.
For supporters, that will be a real frustration. Heading into the window there had been hope that Liverpool may finally sign that long awaited new midfielder.
For plenty, they would have loved to see Liverpool come back in for long-term target Martin Zubimendi this winter. But after Arsenal made their move for Zubimendi instead, it seems as though all is not lost for the Reds.
Liverpool still monitoring Martin Zubimendi
Liverpool should have been alerted by early January claims that Zubimendi is ready to leave Real Sociedad.
The 25-year-old of course came mightily close to departing for Anfield over the summer, only to have a last minute change of heart.
Since then – and since Arsenal’s revamped interest became clear – it has been claimed that Liverpool will not re-join the race for Zubimendi.
However, after Spanish press refuted claims Zubimendi will join Arsenal, German journalist Florian Plettenberg has added more intrigue to the saga.
“FC Bayern continue to monitor Martin Zubimendi,” Plettenberg reports on X. “While Arsenal are showing very concrete interest and pushing a lot to sign him next summer!
“Zubimendi's release clause in the summer is set at €60 million [£51m]. Real Sociedad are unwilling to negotiate, and the 25-year-old Spaniard will not be available for a lower price.
“Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Liverpool are also keeping a close eye on the situation.”
Could Liverpool really come back for Zubimendi?
Ever since he turned them down over the summer, there has been a feeling that Zubimendi could still end up at Liverpool.
Nevertheless, although the Reds may well be monitoring what the Spaniard eventually decides, it now feels like a less necessary deal for them to do.
Ryan Gravenberch has stepped up enormously, meaning it no longer makes a tonne of sense to spend more than £50m on another midfielder.
Having previously identified him as the ideal candidate for Slot, though, and for the fact that no other alternative has since been signed, we still wouldn’t completely rule this out.
