Liverpool line up £64m star to replace Ryan Gravenberch

Liverpool spent last summer fruitlessly chasing Martin Zubimendi.

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The Real Sociedad midfielder was handpicked by Arne Slot to come into the club.

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The Reds triggered his €60 million release clause but were ultimately unable to convince the Spain international to move to Merseyside.

That was a blow as defensive midfield still looks like one area where Arne Slot might do well to upgrade. He’s used Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones on occasion this season with Wataru Endo and to a lesser extent Tyler Morton also available as options.

But the midfield links have nonetheless continued, despite Liverpool’s status as league leaders with their current squad.

Nunez impresses v Spurs

Samuele Ricci and Nico Gonzalez are just two of the names associated with an Anfield transfer but an intriguing new option may have emerged on Thursday night from within Slot’s own squad.

Liverpool defeated Tottenham 4-0 in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, taking their place in next month’s final alongside Newcastle.

And although he didn’t get on the scoresheet, Darwin Nunez did everything else besides - including a “shift” in defensive midfield. The Uruguayan striker worked tirelessly at Anfield, putting in what many fans considered to be his best performance in a Liverpool shirt.

Not only did he win a penalty, converted by Mohamed Salah, but he ended up winning three successful ground duels and three aerial duels.

The 25-year-old also completed four clearances and won two tackles out of two attempted. That would be a decent haul for a specialist midfielder but even more impressive considering Darwin is a striker.

He mopped up plenty of loose balls inside his own area, chased, hassled, harried and harassed Rodrigo Bentancur whenever he crossed the halfway line.

This was a diligent showing from the under-fire frontman, whose work-rate on the night will have done his long-term prospects no harm at all.

These have been uncertain times for Darwin, who could easily have been sold to Al Nassr in January, but he has stayed at least until the end of the season.

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Between now and then he has the opportunity to show Slot - and the fans - that he’s worth keeping around. He showed again there can be more to his name than goals.

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