Liverpool midfield target Martin Zubimendi has turned down a move to Anfield to stay at Real Sociedad.
It had been expected that the Spain international, who had a £51m release clause in his contract at the Anoeta Stadium, would leave the La Liga club this summer.
However, Sociedad were desperate to keep hold of Zubimendi and the 25-year-old has now opted to remain with the Basque club after being offered a new contract with higher wages.
It now remains to be seen if Liverpool, who remain the only Premier League club yet to make a transfer so far this summer, will move their focus on to other midfield targets.
However, new Reds head coach Arne Slot can call on the likes of Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Sobozslai and Wataru Endo to play in midfield, while right-back Trent Alexander Arnold was also often utilised in that role under previous manager Jurgen Klopp last season.
Zubimendi shone in the Euro 2024 final against England when he replaced Rodri at half-time as Spain went on to win 2-1.
Zubimendi was part of the Spain team that won Euro 2024
The midfielder has been at Sociedad since 2011 and helped the club finish sixth last season, scoring four times in 31 appearances.
‘Big loss for Liverpool and Hughes’
Sky Sports reporter Danyal Khan:
On Monday evening, Liverpool were under the impression that Martin Zubimendi wanted to leave Real Sociedad. He’s been there since the age of 12, come through the academy and was ready for a new challenge.
But then he made it very clear that he had changed his mind. That was because of pressure from the club, perhaps, but also this £51m buyout clause.
Richard Hughes joined Liverpool as sporting director from Bournemouth this summer
In Spain, it’s very important that the player has to initiate that buyout clause for a club to then open talks and make that move happen. But it didn’t even get to that stage because Zubimendi changed his mind.
When you look at the Real Sociedad part of the situation, they’ve already lost Robin Le Normand, who joined Atletico Madrid this summer, and we’ve heard links from Mikel Moreno to Arsenal. Perhaps losing Zubimendi, who has a contract until 2027, would be one loss too many.
You also have to acknowledge that for Richard Hughes – the new sporting director at Liverpool – this is a big loss. This was a player Liverpool had identified as someone they thought would really reinforce this midfield.
Slot kicks off Reds reign with trip to Ipswich
Arne Slot kicks off his Liverpool reign with a lunchtime trip to newly promoted Ipswich Town on the opening Saturday of the 2024/25 Premier League season.
The Dutchman will then come up against compatriot Erik ten Hag when Liverpool take on arch-rivals Man Utd at Old Trafford in just his third game in charge of the club with the game currently scheduled for Saturday August 31.
The Reds face tricky-looking back-to-back clashes at home to Chelsea and away to Arsenal in October, before hosting Manchester City at the end of November.
The first Merseyside derby of the season comes at Goodison Park on December 7, while Liverpool begin the new year by entertaining Manchester United on January 4.
Slot’s side travel to the champions on February 22, before the second Merseyside derby of the campaign on April 2 and they conclude the season by taking on Chelsea (a) and Arsenal (h) in consecutive games in May, with Crystal Palace coming to Anfield on the final day.