Steven Gerrard is now paid for his opinion as a pundit, but the Liverpool legend often finds himself watching players he wishes his former club signed
Steven Gerrard speaking on TNT Sports
Steven Gerrard spoke honestly about a player Liverpool did not sign(Image: TNT Sports)
View 3 Images
Steven Gerrard has bemoaned Liverpool's failure to land Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi - the fourth transfer regret the Anfield great has publicly voiced.
The legendary Reds captain was working as a pundit for the Gunners' 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final clash. Before kick-off, Gerrard openly declared his admiration for Zubimendi, whom Liverpool came agonisingly close to securing in the summer of 2024.
Arne Slot had been on the brink of making the Spaniard his first signing as Reds boss, yet the deal collapsed, with the creative midfielder ultimately joining Arsenal a year later. Reflecting on how Liverpool let the Euro 2024 winner slip through their fingers, Gerrard confessed he remains gutted the transfer never came to fruition.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Gerrard said: "He's been given a really key role. At Liverpool, we were linked with for a long time, watched a lot of him on the back of that - (I was) disappointed that we didn't sign him on the back of that.
"Arsenal have got a fantastic player, really intelligent. I think he'll have a big boost being back in Spain tonight, back where he's from. Arsenal need a big performance from him tonight. (Antoine) Griezmann and (Julian) Alvarez like to come short so he'll have to switch on, he's going to have to be aware. At the same time, he's got to connect Arsenal's play. He's got a pivotal role."
Zubimendi is the fourth missed signing Gerrard has lamented. He felt similarly about Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi, both of whom ended up at Manchester City after being strongly linked with a switch to Liverpool for so long.
He also admitted he wishes the club had pursued Declan Rice, before the England international completed his £104m move to Arsenal. Speaking about Guehi and Semenyo, Gerrard recently said: "They should be playing for Liverpool, so that hurts even more.
"We were linked with two of those players and that would have made a big difference to Liverpool. But I've said it before on record. Two top, top players. And for the price that they got them in as well.
Martin Zubimendi during an Arsenal game
Martin Zubimendi appeared to be on the verge of a move to Liverpool in 2024(Image: 2026 The Arsenal Football Club Plc)
View 3 Images
"One on a free. One was, you know, £60m. In today's market, they're two bargains. They're two bargains. Quality players, experienced, ready to go into the prime years of their career. International-level players. And what they've done is they've just helped kick City on at the right time."
Speaking about Rice to the Smith Brothers podcast, he also said: "I love Declan Rice, I've been singing his praises for a long time. I coached Villa against West Ham before he went to Arsenal, I didn't realise how big he was because hadn't met him in person.
Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo after a Man City match
Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo had also been linked with a move to Anfield(Image: 2026 Allstar)
View 3 Images
"You get in the tunnel and think, 'oh my god, that's some profile for a midfielder'. If you're building a midfielder, he's got a body to die for, if you're 6ft1in, 6ft2in, and have the legs, the power, that's the midfielder you want to be. He was calm in possession, an animal out of it, up and down, I really like him as a person as well.
"I think he's really getting into that class where he's becoming a world class midfielder. He's maybe one we should've tried to grab from West Ham, I don't know whether we did but imagine him in this midfield now."
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Content Image
Content Image