Liverpool are interested in Martin Zubimendi and are considering making the Euro 2024 winner their first signing Arne Slotreign.
The midfielder has a £51m release clause in his contract with Royal Societymeaning Liverpool could make a move on him if Slot decides they want the 25-year-old.
Zubimendi, who came off the bench for Spanish football in the Euro 2024 final to impress following Rodri’s injury, has emerged as a target as well as a late replacement for Fabinho and Jordan Henderson.
Liverpool sold their two experienced defensive midfielders to clubs in Saudi Arabia last summer and failed in bids for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, who joined Chelsea.
Instead they signed Wataru Endo, who made 43 appearances last season but whose future is uncertain after Marseille signed him, although Liverpool rejected the offer.
Furthermore, Thiago Alcantara was released in the summer before deciding to retire, and Tyler Morton could move on. Slot has played with Endo, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai in defensive midfield roles in pre-season, while Stefan Bajcetic and Alexis Mac Allister are other options in the box.
Curtis Jones and Joe Gomez were also alternatives to fill that role last season, although neither is naturally used to doing so.
Liverpool are the only Premier League club who are yet to sign a summer signing, as Slot has assessed the squad he inherited from Jurgen Klopp.
Zubimendi has made 187 appearances for Sociedad, being a regular in each of the last four seasons and helping them qualify for the Champions League in 2022-23. He won 10 caps for Spain.
The Anfield club has two more pre-season matches for Slot to assess his squad, against Las Palmas and Sevilla on Sunday. They then begin their Premier League campaign against newly promoted Ipswich Town.
