Liverpool are looking to wrap up a deal for Martin Zubimendi, who has five ways he has already emulated club legend Xabi Alonso. 

At the moment of writing, Liverpool face a tense wait to see whether their pursuit of Martin Zubimendi will have been worth it. The Reds have made the Spanish international their top priority for the no.6 role.

However, Zubimendi's current club, Real Sociedad have launched an offensive to persuade him to stay and reject Liverpool's offer with the Spanish side desperate to keep him at the club.

There is no way to know what Zubimendi's preference is at this stage. The prospect of joining Liverpool is definitely an attractive one for the 25 year old. However, at the same time, Sociedad is his boyhood club, and this is a decision that will weigh heavily on his heart.

The one thing that might swing in Liverpool's favour is the opportunity for Zubimendi to follow in the footsteps of his idol in Xabi Alonso.

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Five ways Martin Zubimendi is exactly like Xabi Alonso

Zubimendi has spoken highly of Alonso in the past, and he's even been coached by the Liverpool legend for Real Sociedad's B team.

But the connection between Zubimendi and Alonso stretches even further. In fact, if you trace back their origins they started at the same youth club, Antiguoko - renowned for producing elite talents in Andalusia.

Remarkably, Zubimendi made his debut for Real Sociedad in in 2019, exactly 20 years after Alonso debuted for the club in 1999. Afterwards, Zubimendi led Sociedad to the Champions League and made his debut in the competition in the 2023/24 season - again exactly 20 years after Alonso did the same in the 2003/04 season.

Just like Alonso made Spain's Euro 2004 squad, Zubimendi did the same 20 years later, being called up to the Spain squad in 2024.

Now, Zubimendi will have a chance to follow in Alonso's footsteps even more by making the move to Merseyside to play under a new manager exactly twenty years after Alonso made that move in 2004.

The icing on the cake would be for Zubimendi to take on Alonso's former number (14) at Liverpool and also win the Champions League in his first season - just like Alonso did in Istanbul.

For now, Liverpool will simply keep their fingers crossed and hope.