There is, obviously, the big three contracts of Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold to sort out, as well as rumours of a new left-back and new centre-forward on the horizon.
One part of the squad that is seemingly settled, however, is the midfield.
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The summer’s rejected approach for Martin Zubimendi left a hole at defensive midfield that Ryan Gravenberch has filled with a level no one truly expected. Alexis Mac Allister has held down the number 8 position well, whilst Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones have shared time at the advanced position on the inside-right, with the latter establishing himself as the starter right now.
As a result, it doesn’t really feel like a midfield addition is needed.
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But a new report from TEAMtalk indicates that Liverpool are still very much interested in Martin Zubimendi and will move for him again in the January transfer window.
Liverpool had agreed to meet the £50m release clause Real Sociedad put in his contract, but personal terms couldn’t be agreed as the player preferred to stay in Spain.
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Yet TEAMtalk’s sources suggest that Liverpool have a ‘very good chance’ of signing the Euro 2024 winner in January, despite facing competition from Arsenal.
Do Liverpool really need to sign Zubimendi?
Whilst Zubimendi is clearly a very good player, it feels like Liverpool’s active interest in going back in for a player that rejected them in the summer is a strange move.
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Particularly when they now have arguably the best player in the same position in the world right now in Ryan Gravenberch.
Zubimendi’s arrival would mean that either he is surplus to requirements immediately, Liverpool paying £50m for a bench player, or he would displace Gravenberch which is not advisable right now.
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Zubimendi could be deployed further up the pitch, perhaps in Mac Allister’s number eight position on the inside-left, where aggression is valued in Arne Slot’s system. But that would also maybe create a reduction in attacking dynamism and would certainly be Zubimendi out of position.
Sporting director Richard Hughes clearly isn’t happy about failing to achieve his main target and seemingly doesn’t care much for the change in circumstances.
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