The Reds have left it late to get going this summer, with less than three weeks now remaining in which to tie up any deals.
Nevertheless, it’s better late than never and all the signs are that Liverpool are about to be busy in the transfer market.
It has been claimed that Arne Slot could target two new forwards in what would be a major strengthening of the Liverpool squad.
Before then, though, the Reds are still trying to sign Martin Zubimendi to complete their midfield. As Zubimendi weighs up whether to leave Real Sociedad, the club’s fans have had their say.
Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad San Sebastian and Chris Bedia of 1 FC Union Berlin duel during the test match between 1 FC Union Berlin and Real ...
Real Sociedad fans devastated over Martin Zubimendi
It must have been a difficult few weeks for Zubimendi. His head has clearly been turned by Liverpool, but he is a Real Sociedad man through and through.
There have been reports that Zubimendi’s advisors have been urging him to join Liverpool and not let this chance pass him by, but that’s easier said than done when emotion is involved.
For fans of the club, the issue tends to be more black and white. Jump ship and you’re a traitor, simple as.
According to local San Sebastian outlet Noticias de Gipuzkoa, though, the feeling amongst supporters runs a little deeper than that.
They claim that with Mikel Merino looking like being on his way to Arsenal and Robin Le Normand having already left for Atletico Madrid, La Real fans are terrified about what the new season could bring.
There has reportedly been ‘chaos and pessimism’ over the news that Zubimendi could join Liverpool in particular.
It’s even claimed that life at the Txuri-Urdin have been ‘turned upside down’ by the ‘extreme’ situation regarding Zubimendi.
As a result, the club are said to be ‘sparring no expense’ in an attempt to keep the Liverpool target and have offered him the chance to become the highest earner in the squad.
However, Zubimendi has reportedly ‘opened a lot of ground that will be difficult to retrace’ during meetings with the Reds and it’s claimed that Liverpool are now expecting the 25-year-old to join.
Although there could supposedly be ‘new episodes’ in this saga yet, there is said to be a chance that it could all be over with Zubimendi moving to Merseyside by this weekend.
No pleasure in Liverpool disrupting Real Sociedad
Such is the way of football, there are always winners and there are always losers. In this scenario, it’s very clear who those would be.
That is not always the case with transfers, even one’s pertaining to a player leaving his boyhood club to move elsewhere.
Take Xabi Alonso as a relevant example. Alonso was in the exact scenario that Zubimendi finds himself in now 20 years ago, in 2004. But when the Spaniard left Real Sociedad for Liverpool it was with the acknowledgement that his time had come to move on.
For Zubimendi things may have been the same, but the Euro 2024 winner made some ill-advised comments that he would definitely be staying at Anoeta just a few weeks ago.
From that point of view, you can really understand the devastation of the club’s supporters. For Liverpool, they are the clear winners if they can secure a player who Xavi called ‘extraordinary.’ But there’s no joy in shattering another club’s fanbase in the process.
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