Real Sociedad convinced Martin Zubimendi to turn down Liverpool in the summer but do the Reds need to add to their squad now their season is going so well?
Martin Zubimendi turned down a move to Liverpool during the summer
Zubimendi was wanted by Liverpool last summer (
Image: Getty Images)
Chris McKenna
The moving of the Merseyside derby thanks to Storm Darragh may bring into focus the fixture congestion ahead for Liverpool early next year.
While the Reds are marching through past the Champions League play-off round and straight into the last-16, they are now fighting for trophies on four fronts.
They’re top of the Premier League, have a Carabao Cup quarter-final with Southampton which could lead to three more games in that campaign and an FA Cup run to begin with a home tie against Accrington Stanley.
Few - certainly outside of Anfield - believed Liverpool could be staring the second half of the season like this when Jurgen Klopp departed and was replaced by Arne Slot.
Many overreacted when Martin Zubimendi opted to stay at Real Sociedad and pointed fingers of blame at the new sporting structure for the failure to sign a big name in the summer window.
Now all the focus is around the futures of Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold. But maybe with the season Liverpool are having, they should check in on Zubimendi and see if he’s got any regrets over his summer decision.
The centre of midfield is actually one of the areas where injuries haven’t really disrupted Slot’s plans so far this term. But maybe with so much football to be played, they could still do with some more options.
Now - given the price - it would be a big outlay for ‘more options’. Certainly given the success of Ryan Gravenberch in the No 6 role. But title races are marathons and not sprints. Liverpool have a healthy lead over their competitors but there will be moments when they hit the proverbial wall and may need something to get through it.
Gravenberch has almost been an ever present for Liverpool this season (
Image:
PA)
Up until being substituted in the second half against Newcastle last week, Gravenberch has played every minute of the Premier League and European campaign for Liverpool so far this season. That is how important he is to Slot’s side and the way he wants them to play.
Zubimendi may be one they revisit in the summer but if the budget was there to get him a few months ago and he’s changed his mind then why not pull the trigger now? Maybe there would be concern about unsettling a squad that is flying so far this season.
That’s an important factor to consider, for sure. Gravenberch has been excellent, he may feel undermined if suddenly a new player with a hefty price tag rocks up at the club halfway through an impressive campaign.
Obviously a lot of this is hypothetical. Zubimendi may still be content where he is and not want to leave. Liverpool didn’t move on to a new target in the summer and they’re unlikely to go for another name in the January window, it would be the end of the season when others come into the frame for their recruitment.
But it would be surely worth checking if Zubimendi has had second thoughts. Liverpool will need as many options they can get if they are to turn this season into a special one.
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