Martin Zubimendi sends Liverpool CLEAR transfer message

Liverpool are still in the market for Martin Zubimendi. The Real Sociedad midfielder has sent them a message they can’t ignore.

David Ornstein of the Athletic claims Liverpool still want Martin Zubimendi. The Reds desperately tried to sign him in the summer, only for Zubimendi to reject them at the last minute.

But things are set to change. One of the primary reasons he said no in August was that things were rushed. He didn't want to leave his boyhood club in the lurch, especially as Mikel Merino neared the exit door himself.

Now that there's been some time to settle and plan, the door has opened again. Zubimendi is now expected to depart in 2025 - though, the summer is more likely than the winter.

Will Liverpool still have the same level of interest, however?

Martin Zubimendi to Liverpool

If Liverpool liked Zubimendi coming off of last season, their interest will only have increased. The Spaniard is simply even better than he was.

His passing is better across the board. He's attempting more and completing more at roughly the same completion rate (down one per cent). But it's where Zubimendi is playing these passes that catches the eye.

He's completing more key passes per 90 minutes (passes the directly lead to a shot), more passes into the final third, more passes into the penalty area and more progressive passes (forward passes of at least 10 yards). These numbers are all noticeably up, too.

And Zubimendi is doing it without the ball. He's winning more tackles and boasting a significantly higher success rate against dribblers. He's blocking more, clearing more and interestingly, winning more tackles in the attacking third than he ever has before.

That latter stat really catches the eye. Zubimendi was averaging under one tackle in the final third every ten games. Now it's just shy of one every two games.

The midfielder is averaging 10 more touches per 90 minutes, too. He's up to 70 this season - it sat at exactly 60 for three seasons straight. Zubimendi is attempting twice as many take-ons, too, and is even doing that at a better success rate.

He's carrying it forward more, too, and to top it off, the Spaniard is winning around 10 per cent more of his aerial duels (70 per cent).

All in all, Zubimendi is better than when Liverpool were desperate to sign him. Now they need to decide whether there's still room - because the message is clear: he's world-class.

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