Liverpool are flying high this season, with Manchester Cityits shocking collapse raises hope that the Premier League the title can be lifted at Anfield. Arne slot machineThe Reds are currently four points adrift with a game in hand at the bottom.
But the season is long and full of twists and turns, and the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea have been hot on Liverpool’s heels, especially after the Merseyside derby was called off due to bad weather last weekend.
The festive season is known to frustrate many hopeful Premier League sides, but Liverpool will be confident of their ability to overcome any winter setbacks, especially with key players returning from injury.
Although the Anfield side have eclipsed expectations so far this season, there is always room for improvement and it may be wise to FSG to approve some winter transfer activity.
Why Liverpool need a January signing
Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa have returned to first-team training, which has given a big boost to the fluidity and rotation of Liverpool’s front line.
However, several key members of Liverpool’s defense remain on the sidelines, and although the midfield has been impressive this season, there is a feeling that Liverpool could do with a new part to ensure that their hard-working engine room continues to he purrs as dreams of silver begin to become more concrete. in the coming months.
Liverpool missed out on their big summer transfer target last summer, and while that didn’t affect the midfield, the man in question would have been a great addition – and might still be.
Liverpool transfer news
According to the Timesof Real Sociedad Martin Zubimenti has entertained the idea of leaving the Basque Country in 2025, having rejected concerted efforts by Richard Hughes to bring him to Anfield at the start of the 2024/25 season.
The £50m-rated Spain international’s opening to the move has again alerted Slot and co, although he is also on the radar of Man City and Arsenal. While Liverpool’s summer efforts will potentially give them a boost, their Premier League rivals will be sure to present compelling cases.
Zubimendi’s decision to reject the Reds’ approach has opened the door for an existing member of Slot’s squad, but there’s no reason why the pair can’t co-exist at number six.
What would Martin Zubimenti bring to Liverpool?
So far this season, Ryan Gravenberch he has started every game covering Liverpool’s Premier League and Champions League campaigns, with his late withdrawal at St James’ Park last week making the opening minutes to miss the entire term.
Slott clearly has a lot of faith in the dynamic, pressure-resistant midfielder, but he looked tired at Newcastle. The slot doesn’t favor Alexis Mac Allister in the deep sitting role and Wataru Endo has barely featured all season, his tough tackling style not reserved for the final moments when Liverpool need grit.
Bringing in a player like Zubimendi could be the provider of dimension Liverpool need to achieve their lofty goals in the busy months of the season.
Last term, Jurgen KloppLiverpool were outplayed towards the closing stages, burnt out and it’s important they don’t hit the same thing twice under Slott’s wing as the Reds are in a fantastic position to challenge for some silverware before the summer.
|
Ryan Gravenberch vs Martin Zubimendi (24/25) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Match Stats* |
||
|
Games (start) |
14 (14) |
16 (15) |
|
Goals |
0 |
1 |
|
It helps |
1 |
1 |
|
touches* |
73.8 |
68.1 |
|
Completion of pass |
89% |
85% |
|
Basic Passes* |
0.6 |
0.6 |
|
dribbles* |
0.9 |
0.8 |
|
Ball recovery* |
5.4 |
4.4 |
|
Tackles + Cuts* |
3.9 |
3.8 |
|
Total duels (won)* |
5.5 (63%) |
5.9 (64%) |
|
Statistics via Sofascore (* = per game) |
||
With Gravenberch widely regarded as one of the best midfielders on English shores this season, it is surprising to note that Zubimendi is operating at a similar level in relation to La Liga, such is his quality, with Spain coach Luis de la Fuente even hailing him as one of the “best central midfielders in the world”.
It would be a fantastic deal for Liverpool, one that could even elevate Slot’s fledgling project to an even higher level. Who knows, maybe it would turn out to be the Dutch coach’s too Virgil van Dijk signature.
The club’s towering captain has been a pillar of strength and leadership since arriving from Southampton in January 2018. in a deal worth £75m – a world record for a defender at the time.
Before Van Dijk’s arrival, Klopp’s Liverpool were an entertaining side with a relentless front line but lacked balance and security in the defensive third. It was a team that got the fans off their seats but sent them back down after blundering, lackluster defensive displays.
Van Dijk changed all that, rewrote the narrative and promoted a quest for the greatest honors. It was he who served as the transformative figure and cemented Klopp’s legacy as one of the greatest in Liverpool’s rich history.
Now, Zubimendi can do the same. The 25-year-old Spaniard is already considered a “world-class” player in his homeland, as well Spanish football writer Alexandra Johnson he said, and is on the radar of England’s biggest and best outfits.
Like Gravenberch, he plays a loose and influential role in the center of the pitch, able to collect and drive forward while playing balls to well-placed teammates, who can then dart into dangerous areas. Think Mohamed Salah, arcing in from the right, finding a sharp delivery that is not only perfectly weighted but delivered at the perfect time. With regularity.
He could combine with Trent Alexander-Arnold, while enhancing the qualities of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, perhaps giving the latter more opportunities to increase his power in front of goal.
While £50m would be a big winter outlay for FSG, it is not unreasonable to expect Gravenberch to continue without real competition during the campaign. Imagine if the Dutch star gets injured a month into the new year. Harmful.
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It’s a deal that needs to be done, especially with Arsenal and City lurking. Having patiently waited for Van Dijk to land afterwards disappears in the summer of 2017perhaps a similar scenario may occur in relation to Zubimendi’s arrest.
