BREAKING NEWS:🚨🚨Liverpool’s stance on signing Martin Zubimendi as midfielder ‘wants January transfer

Liverpool pushed all summer to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad until the midfielder decided to stay, a decision he may already regret according to reports in Spain
Martin Zubimendi was of major interest to Liverpool but rejected a summer move (Image: Getty Images)

Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi now regrets his decision to reject a summer transfer to Liverpool and is pushing for a January move, according to reports in Spain.

Liverpool had a quiet transfer window compared to some of its Premier League rivals, bringing in just two new players. Italian winger Federico Chiesa was signed from Juventus in a deal worth $13 million, and $33 million was spent on Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, although he was loaned back to the Spanish club for the 2024-25 season as part of the agreement.

The Reds were prepared to spend money and pursued the signing of Zubimendi all summer, with new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot keen to strengthen the base of his midfield. Negotiations took place for several weeks, but the 25-year-old decided that he wanted to remain with his boyhood club that he joined at the age of 12.

However, Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo has claimed that Zubimendi is now keen to revive the deal and is hoping that Liverpool attempts to sign him again during the January transfer window. It would be a major U-turn from the midfielder, who declared his love for Sociedad after formally rejecting Liverpool.

Zubimendi enjoyed a dream summer after winning Euro 2024 with Spain, and it appeared that his performances had earned him a Premier League move. Sociedad had already been raided by Arsenal who signed Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino for $37.5 million, and demanded that Liverpool pay Zubimendi’s $66.5 million release clause.

Liverpool isn’t a club that pays over the odds and continued negotiating with Sociedad until Zubimendi made it clear he wanted to remain in Spain. Shortly after the transfer saga was over, Zubimendi said: “Real Sociedad for me is my life. I think I have spent half my life there. A lot of what I am is part of La Real, it is my life.”

Slot wasn’t impacted by his first failed transfer as Liverpool head coach, and said ahead of the Reds’ Premier League opener: “It’s not always true that if you bring in new players the team becomes stronger. I said many times I think our squad is strong and it’s not easy to find players who can help us or can even strengthen the squad.

Zubimendi was Liverpool’s main target throughout the summer (Image: Getty Images)

“Zubimendi was one of them, to be fair, but he decided not to come. He (Richard Hughes, Liverpool sporting director) tried everything to bring him in, but if a player doesn’t want to come, it’s obvious he is not coming.”

Liverpool went on to win its opening three Premier League games without conceding a goal, before a shock 1-0 home defeat against Nottingham Forest. They quickly put that result behind them and made a winning start in the Champions League, defeating AC Milan 3-1.

Sociedad has made a poor start to the season after winning just one of its first six games and is currently 16th in La Liga. The Spanish team will compete in the Europa League this season, the second-tier of elite European competition.

Liverpool.com says:It’s unlikely that Zubimendi will have completely changed his mindset after just six games of the new season, especially after feeling so strongly about his decision to stay in Spain. However, even if he does want Liverpool to come back in for him, with Ryan Gravenberch performing so well this season it’s unlikely that the Reds will break the bank in January and may wait until next summer to assess the market. Liverpool doesn’t come calling often, Zubimendi may have missed his only chance.