Rumour Mongering: Martin Zubimendi "Ready to Leave" Real Sociedad

01/02/2025 12:42 PM

The Basque midfielder may be having second thoughts following his summer decision to stay loyal to his boyhood club but are Liverpool even still interested?

Last summer, Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi was meant to be Liverpool's cornerstone signing, one last player to add to the puzzle mostly put together by departed manager Jürgen Klopp that new head coach Arne Slot was looking to complete.

Everything seemed in order, with the player bullish on the move, a contract agreed, and the Reds ready to pay to trigger his release clause only for a last minute change of heart to see the 25-year-old holding midfielder decide he couldn't abandon his boyhood club.

That commitment may not have lasted very long if reports this week are to be believed, with Zubimendi said to be willing now to abandon Sociedad. However, it's far from clear how much interest Liverpool still have, which could leave just one potential destination.

If he does leave behind the mountains and pintxos of his home this month, the BBC and Guillem Balague think crisis-hit Manchester City are his likeliest destination—and a chance for the player to fill in for injured star Rodri at the club level as he does for Spain.

Rumours over the autumn have also regularly linked Zubimendi with Barcelona and Real Madrid, though the former couldn't afford his release clause last summer and seem unlikely to be able to in their current state while the latter have no need for him in January.

Real Madrid's well stocked midfield depth chart seems to make for a poor fit regardless, but a summer reshuffle could always happen if he sees out the season at Sociedad. It's also not impossible the Reds could re-visit their interest despite the summer's awkwardness.

With Sociedad currently sat seventh in La Liga and within striking distance of the European qualification places, though, one has to wonder why Zubimendi would be willing to move on from them now in the middle of the season if he wasn't back in the summer.