Liverpool battling for “world-class” £50m talent

Liverpool are chomping on the bit. Home motion resumes this weekend and Arne Slot‘s aspect journey to bottom-placed Southampton with hopes of sustaining (or extending) their five-point lead on the summit of the Premier League.

Anfield’s halls are inscribed with the success of so a few years, and Slot might be determined so as to add his mark to the membership’s storied historical past – he is actually in a very good place to take action.

Liverpool’s PL Begins after 11 Video games (previous 5 years)
#	W	D	L	GF	GA	Rank (factors)
24/25	9	1	1	21	6	1st (28)
23/24	7	3	1	24	10	third (24)
22/23	4	5	2	23	12	eighth (17)
21/22	6	4	1	31	11	4th (22)
20/21	7	3	1	26	17	2nd (24)
Stats by way of Transfermarkt

Nonetheless, Liverpool resisted spending freely this summer time, solely bringing within the injury-prone Federico Chiesa, and there may be now a way that the winter market might be used to consolidate the promising place. A cynic may say that there’s nonetheless one thing missing in midfield.

Liverpool eyeing new midfielder

As per Caught Offside, Liverpool have retained their curiosity in Actual Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, although Arsenal are additionally eager on signing the Spaniard.

The 25-year-old opted to stay in Basque Nation regardless of Liverpool’s vested curiosity this summer time, however there may be seemingly hope that he might be tempted to rethink in 2025.

Valued at £50m, this clearly would not be an inexpensive deal to engineer, however he really may full Slot’s engine room and make sure that silverware may be claimed throughout a variety of competitions, for a lot of years.

Martin Zubimendi might be Slot’s personal Xabi Alonso

Zubimendi has been described as certainly one of “the best centre midfielders in the world” by Spain supervisor Luis de la Fuente, who masterminded his nation’s Euro 2024 triumph this summer time.

Sociedad, who’re eighth in La Liga and twenty fifth within the 36-team Europa League group section, have been patchy this season, however that is in no half right down to Zubimendi, who has probably been his aspect’s finest participant, forging full performances from the center of the park.

As per FBref, he ranks among the many high 9% of centre-midfielders in La Liga this season for progressive passes (7.28) per 90, which is greater than Ryan Gravenberch (5.55), and Alexis Mac Allister (5.44)

This means that the Spain worldwide would serve that deep-sitting, play-building position higher than Liverpool’s current choices, permitting Gravenberch to interrupt up and recycle play and Mac Allister to function in a freer midfield place.

He is additionally an achieved defensive outlet, profitable a whopping 65% of his duels within the Spanish high flight this season, averaging 5.6 per sport, as per Sofascore.

If Liverpool had been to signal Zubimendi, it might be a switch harking back to the deal struck to signal Xabi Alonso approach again when. Alonso joined Liverpool from Sociedad in 2004 and went on to win the Champions League and FA Cup alongside Steven Gerrard, forging a historic partnership earlier than signing for Real Madrid for £30m in 2009.

Alonso, now supervisor of Bayer Leverkusen, played 210 matches for the Reds and dazzled along with his breadth of passing qualities, imaginative and prescient and cerebral method to his craft working wonders for Rafa Benitez’s aspect.

Spanish soccer author Alexandra Jonson remarked that there’s “no doubt that Zubimendi is world-class” final season, and provided that he is sustained and even perhaps developed his degree since, it appears he can be a credit score to Liverpool’s first staff.

Who is aware of, his roundedness and intelligence in midfield may even see him turn into Slot’s personal model of Alonso, arriving to elevate the staff towards probably the most illustrious of heights.