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Bad news for Liverpool as £51m target picks up ‘serious’ injury ahead of January transfer window

The good news kept rolling in for Liverpool this weekend as both Man City and Arsenal dropped points after the Reds were handed a break following the postponement of the Merseyside Derby.

Arne Slot’s men were scheduled to take part in their final clash with Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon but with Storm Darragh causing havoc on Merseyside, it was thought best to postpone the fixture to keep fans safe.

This provided Liverpool with a bit of rest after a tough away trip to Newcastle and having watched title rivals Man City and Arsenal drop points with draws against Crystal Palace and Fulham.

Combined with this, news broke that Mohamed Salah was set to be offered a new contract. It was a great weekend for the Premier League leaders.

That was until a negative update came out of Spain on Sunday afternoon related to Martin Zubimendi, a player the Premier League club have pursued since the summer.

Martín Zubimendi of Real Sociedad lays injured on the ground during the LaLiga match between CD Leganes and Real Sociedad at Estadio Municipal de B...

Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images

Martin Zubimendi suffers ‘serious’ injury admits Real Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil

Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil stated on Sunday that Zubimendi picked up a ‘serious’ injury during the La Liga side’s 3-0 win away to Leganes.

Speaking in the aftermath of securing the three points, the 53-year-old provided an update on the fitness of the Spain international after the midfielder was taken off with 50 minutes on the clock.

“Zubimendi and Aihen have asked me to change them, and it seems serious,” the Spanish coach said via Mundo Deportivo.

“Sergio Gómez’s case is different, he suffered a blow to the quadriceps in a clash with a rival player, but I preferred to change him, we will see how he recovers.”

Scans will reveal how serious the injury to Zubimendi is and if the issue is a long-term problem, that will have an impact on the January transfer window for many clubs.

What does this mean for Liverpool’s pursuit of Martin Zubimendi?

Liverpool heavily pursued the Real Sociedad star during the summer as the Premier League club looked to bring the midfielder to Anfield as part of a £51m deal. The Reds are unlikely to have lost interest in Zubimendi but their need for the Euro 2024 is not as necessary as it was before the 2024/25 campaign began.

The injury to the 25-year-old will be a blow to his pursuers, with Man City also linked to Zubimendi recently; however, with a deal for the midfielder more likely to get done next summer, his fitness issue will not be viewed as a problem in Liverpool.

Slot has made Ryan Gravenberch a big success in the number six position at Anfield and so long as the Dutch star continues to perform at his current level, the Merseyside club can wait for Zubimendi.

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