Martin Zubimendi could PUSH long-term midfield target to Liverpool

Liverpool spent last summer fruitlessly chasing the signature of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.

The Spain international has a €60 million release clause in his contract, which the Reds activated, but the club were unable to convince the 25-year-old to swap San Sebastian for Merseyside.

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A year on and Zubimendi seems to be off the menu for sporting director Richard Hughes and head coach Arne Slot. At one stage it appeared Arsenal were close to landing the midfield schemer but now a decisive frontrunner has emerged for Zubimendi.

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COPE in Spain is reporting that Real Madrid are growing increasingly confident of landing the Spaniard and are “accelerating” their attempts to sign him at the end of the season.

Zubimendi shares an agent, Iñaki Ibáñez, with Xabi Alonso, who is widely expected to succeed Carlo Ancelotti as Real coach in time for next season.

That could smooth the transition for Zubimendi’s deal, with Los Blancos and Real Sociedad also enjoying close relations in the past few seasons.

Liverpool could move for unwanted Tchouameni

The two clubs would not need to enter into negotiations with the €60m release clause to be deposited with the Spanish football authorities by the player in order to facilitate the deal.

And if Zubimendi arrives as scheduled, then it could mean the end of the road for one of Real’s current midfield stars and a long-term Reds’ target.

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Aurelien Tchouameni declined the opportunity to join Liverpool back in 2022 when he left Monaco, opting to take up a role with Madrid instead.

“The first to come forward was Liverpool,” he admitted in November 2022 to Le Parisian. “We had discussions. Then Real came along and in my head everything was clear. It was Real and no other.”

Tchouameni out of favour in midfield

But the France international has fallen down the midfield pecking order this season, leading to speculation that he could be offloaded.

Tchouameni, 25, has had to settle for a place at centre-back instead amid an injury crisis with his place in the middle going to Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga instead.

It was even claimed at the back end of 2024 that the Reds had entered talks over the terms of a deal with Tchouameni.

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The time could be right for Liverpool to strike for the €80m-rated midfielder, who would provide stiff competition for Ryan Gravenberch in Arne Slot’s lineup.