Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi will remain there after Liverpool was unable to sign him. Now, before August 30, Arne Slot and Richard Hughes must locate a substitute.
Aurelien Tchouameni was targeted until it became clear that he only wanted to move to Real Madrid while Moises Caicedo picked Chelsea when Liverpool joined the race for his signature too late in the day. Romeo Lavia then followed suit, though the former Manchester City talent did little last season to suggest that the Reds have really missed out.
The bottom line is, however, that a deep-lying midfielder has long been a signing that Liverpool has been open to. Wataru Endo was not a long-term solution — and the evidence so far is that Arne Slot isn’t convinced by his on-ball value.
With just 17 days remaining in the transfer window, new sporting director Richard Hughes is going to be busy. The Zubimendi saga has not fallen his way, but Liverpool thought the player had given enough encouragement — and maybe even his word — that a deal was possible. In the end, the 25-year-old changed his mind.
Liverpool will not necessarily sign an alternative having viewed Zubimendi as the ideal profile. That, though, is not an option that should be preferred. Quite simply, having identified that position as one that needs an upgrade, it would leave a hole in Slot’s squad if no one arrives.
Liverpool does have other options who can play as its defensive midfielder, with Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones both having done it during pre-season and Alexis Mac Allister having spent most of his time at Anfield to date playing there. Dominik Szoboszlai and even Trent Alexander-Arnold are other alternatives at a push, and then there is Endo.
Not bringing in an alternative option to Zubimendi would mean Liverpool having limitations as Slot attempts to implement his new style. It would also mean relying on a couple of players to successfully transition into new roles and perhaps put more pressure on Stefan Bajcetic to get back to his best.
It is evident that there aren’t many excellent possibilities for number six; if there were, Liverpool would have purchased one when it became clear that Fabinho was declining a few years ago. Still, the hunt for the Brazilian’s replacement continues a year after his departure and a year after he ought to have been replaced.
It could be the case that there aren’t any substitutes for Zubimendi available. That seems doubtful, though, and if Slot wants to have the best chance of succeeding in his first campaign, he should avoid not signing one before the August 30 transfer deadline.
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