Liverpool remain committed to their pursuit of Martin Zubimendi, with sources in Spain reporting ongoing negotiations with Real Sociedad, potentially including a swap deal as part of the transfer.
As the discussions continue, all parties are closely monitoring Zubimendi’s decision regarding his future at Real Sociedad. The 25-year-old midfielder has emerged as a top target for Liverpool, but despite initial hopes for a quick resolution, Sociedad is making efforts to convince him to stay.
Zubimendi’s inclusion in the squad for Sociedad’s friendly against Union Berlin on Friday night suggests that a transfer is not imminent. However, Spanish journalist Jorge C. Picon reports that both clubs are “still working on reaching an agreement” for his transfer. According to Picon, Zubimendi has “already given the thumbs up to the English team,” although Sociedad is hoping for a last-minute change of mind.
One potential sticking point is Zubimendi’s release clause, which must be triggered for any deal to proceed. Clubs often spread the cost over several years through a process known as amortization, helping to balance their finances. Sociedad may stand firm on the fee agreed upon when Zubimendi signed his contract, but Liverpool is exploring alternative arrangements in their negotiations.
A compromise could involve a higher overall fee with a more manageable payment plan, such as £55 million spread over the course of Zubimendi’s proposed five-year contract at £11 million per year.
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There’s also the possibility of a player-plus-cash deal, which is an intriguing option for Liverpool. The club is looking to offload several fringe players, including Fabio Carvalho, Tyler Morton, Sepp van den Berg, Nat Phillips, Owen Beck, and Rhys Williams. There are even rumours that Kostas Tsimikas and Bobby Clark might be available for the right offer.
However, whether Sociedad would be interested in any of these players remains uncertain, and such a scenario seems unlikely at this stage.
Nevertheless, Friday brought encouraging signs from Spain, with further updates expected when Sociedad announces their lineup for the match against Union Berlin.
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