Martin Zubimendi u-turn and Real Sociedad president comments could hand Liverpool transfer decision

As the players headed down the tunnel at Estadi Mallorca on Tuesday night, Martin Zubimendi could have been forgiven for wondering what might have been. While Liverpool were busy dispatching AC Milan on their own turf in the Champions League, the Spaniard had spent the evening toiling away as his Real Sociedad side were narrowly beaten by Mallorca.

It was La Real’s fourth defeat of the season, with the Spanish outfit now sitting 16th in La Liga having won only one of their first six games. Certainly, it has not been the barnstorming start to the campaign Zubimendi was surely hoping for when he opted to snub a summer transfer to Liverpool in favour of remaining in his homeland.

The Reds’ pursuit of the 25-year-old is well-documented, with Richard Hughes and his recruitment team having identified him as the ideal candidate to fill the longstanding void at the base of Liverpool’s engine room. The club were prepared to pay Zubimendi’s £51.3million release clause after he became unexpectedly available following a string of eye-catching performances at the summer’s European Championship.

However, an eleventh-hour charm offensive from his boyhood club resulted in the midfielder politely declining the chance to move to Anfield and Liverpool choosing not to bolster their midfield ranks. Both outcomes did not go down particularly well in some quarters of the Reds’ fanbase.

Fast forward to present day, though, and Liverpool have so far been vindicated for their decision to install Ryan Gravenberch as their No.6, rather than spending top dollar to find an alternative in the transfer market. The Dutchman has made an exceptional start to the campaign and is now one of the first names on the team sheet, while Liverpool have largely impressed under their new head coach.

Even in Liverpool’s sole defeat – last weekend’s drab showing at home to Nottingham Forest – Gravenberch caught the eye and, at just 22, it is hoped the midfielder could be the long-term solution to what has long been a problem position for the Reds. Still, though, it appears that Liverpool’s association with Zubimendi is not quite dead and buried.

According to Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo, the midfielder is now regretting his decision to remain in San Sebastian and has appealed to the Reds to revisit their interest in the January transfer window. The report has been greeted with a mixed reception on social media, with some fans believing that Zubimendi’s late summer U-turn should make his acquisition a non-starter as far as Liverpool are concerned.

But, if pride comes before a fall, it could be argued that the Reds would be foolish to let August’s debacle hinder them from moving for one of their top targets – particularly if the club harbours ambitions of winning major silverware this season. Gravenberch is an undeniable talent but, with the football calendar more congested than ever for Europe’s top teams, he cannot be expected to start every game.

Should injury or a dip in form necessitate some time on the sidelines for the Dutchman further down the line, Liverpool’s options to replace him are limited. Of course, there is Wataru Endo, who is arguably unlucky to have fallen down the pecking order this season after his impressive form in the second half of last term.

But, with the Japan international having so far been restricted to a few substitute appearances under Slot, it is fair to assume the new head coach does not yet view him as one of his most trusted lieutenants. Curtis Jones played as a No.6 to great acclaim during pre-season but is only now working his way back to full fitness after a groin injury, while Tyler Morton – who remained at Anfield this summer despite being heavily linked with a permanent move away from the club – is yet to feature this season.

Alexis Mac Allister and even Dominik Szoboszlai could play in a deeper-lying role if necessary but that would have a knock-on effect higher up the pitch. In summary, it seems all of the options at Slot’s disposal come with some risk factor and it was telling that, when the Dutchman opted to make a midfield change against Forest last weekend, his first thought was to promote Trent Alexander-Arnold to a more advanced position rather than turning to his bench.

With that in mind, it would surely be prudent for Liverpool to equip their boss with another midfield man who can be relied upon in any circumstance. Zubimendi is a player with both Champions League and international pedigree, having proved a more than capable deputy for the imperious Rodri as Spain romped to victory over England in the Euros final.

Even in spite of Sociedad’s poor form this season, Zubimendi still ranks highly among La Liga’s midfielders when it comes to important metrics such as interceptions, blocks and touches. Enlisting a player of his calibre would allow Slot greater licence to rest Gravenberch or to perhaps trial him alongside another player who can get stuck into the gritty defensive work.

Zubimendi’s loyalty to La Real – the club he first joined as a 12-year-old – may have stymied Liverpool’s summer plans but it should not be held against him if the opportunity to acquire his signature does arrive at some point down the line. After all, Reds’ supporters demanded a similar sense of allegiance from Steven Gerrad when he was linked with a move away from Anfield and will be hoping for a similar show of fealty from Trent Alexander-Arnold as he continues to be linked with a switch to Real Madrid.

Last week, Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay revealed there had been no contract talks between the club and Zubimendi, whose current deal is set to expire in 2027. Until the Spaniard further commits his future to the Basque side, speculation will likely continue.

Though the midfielder’s future may well lie in San Sebastian, Liverpool must ensure that, if he does wish to leave, they are at the front of the queue.