Liverpool now set to lose ANOTHER to Real Madrid after player’s change of heart

Liverpool have had a successful start to the campaign under new boss Arne Slot and the Reds currently sit top of the Premier League.

Slot’s side have won five of their opening six Premier League games and were also victorious in their opening games of both the UEFA Champions League and the Carabao Cup.

This success has come despite the Reds spending very little in the transfer market this summer, with a cut-price deal for Federico Chiesa being the only transfer completed.

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A deal for Giorgi Mamardashvili was also agreed for 2025 but Slot has had to utilize the squad that he inherited from Jurgen Klopp, and he has done so to great effect.

Although Liverpool’s start to the season has been impressive, it was clear that the Reds were keen to add midfield reinforcements this summer and now their former top target, Martin Zubimendi, has reportedly decided his next destination.

Zubimendi decides his next destination

Despite a deal looking likely at times throughout the summer, Zubimendi decided to remain at his boyhood club Real Sociedad and sign a new contract.

No new contract has been signed yet though and, with Real Sociedad currently sitting 14^th in the table after eight games, the Euros winner may be reconsidering his future.

According to TBR Football, Zubimendi has decided he wants to join Real Madrid despite lingering interest from Liverpool. It would see the Reds lose another transfer target to Los Blancos, having previously seen Aurelien Tchouameni, Rodrygo Goes, Eduardo Camavinga, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe head to Madrid.

The report also claims that Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City are interested in the 25-year-old, which could make a Liverpool return for the midfielder that much harder.

Real Madrid apparently want Zubimendi to replace Luka Modric at the end of the season and the 15-time European Cup winners appear to have turned Zubimendi’s head.

Do Liverpool still need Zubimendi?

Although a sensational return for the midfielder hasn’t been ruled out, Liverpool have now got their own star man playing in Zubimendi’s position.

Ryan Gravenberch, who was Jurgen Klopp’s final Liverpool signing, has broken out under Slot and now looks like a top-level player in the holding midfield role.

Gravenberch’s dominating performances in the centre of the park have earned him praise from around the football world and there is now a good argument to be made that Zubimendi wouldn’t even get into Liverpool’s strongest XI.

Despite Gravenberch’s stand-out performances, the Reds lack depth in the midfield, and the signing of Zubimendi could still be very useful but it appears the Reds will face much more competition than they did before if they are to return for him.