Liverpool receive Martin Zubimendi transfer update as Real Sociedad chief makes January statement

Real Sociedad sporting manager Roberto Olabe has affirmed that helium does not expect Liverpool-linked midfielder Martin Zubimendi to propulsion for an exit during the January transportation window.

The Spanish Euro 2024 victor was believed to beryllium connected the cusp of joining the Reds during the summertime window, lone to person a precocious alteration of bosom and stay successful San Sebastian.

Zubimendi precocious opened up connected his "selfish" decision to proceed with his boyhood club, but helium is being lined up for a Premier League determination erstwhile again astatine the extremity of the existent campaign.

Despite being rebuffed by Zubimendi implicit the summer, Liverpool are inactive understood to beryllium successful the mix, portion Manchester City and Arsenal person besides been touted arsenic imaginable destinations.

Real Sociedad volition beryllium powerless to forestall the 25-year-old from leaving if a nine activates his €60m (£49.8m) merchandise clause, but Olabe remains calm, insisting that the player's "will" trumps written agreements.

Real Sociedad not expecting Zubimendi 'scare' successful January

© Imago

"There is small bid regarding the clauses, but successful each this clip Martin himself has shown america that supra the clauses are the wills," Olabe told Estadio Deportivo. "Until contiguous we person already seen the behaviour that helium has had, I bash not foresee that we volition person immoderate scares successful January."

Zubimendi inactive has two-and-a-half years to tally connected his declaration with Real Sociedad, whom helium has represented since 2011, and the midfielder present boasts 9 goals and 9 assists successful 209 matches for the club.

The 25-year-old has scored erstwhile and acceptable up 2 much goals successful 21 matches this play and memorably replaced the injured Rodri during the Euro 2024 final, coming connected astatine fractional clip arsenic Spain bushed England 2-1.

After missing retired connected Zubimendi, Liverpool did not motion a caller midfielder successful the summertime window, but Ryan Gravenberch has unexpectedly blossomed alongside Alexis Mac Allister successful Arne Slot's treble pivot.

Arsenal besides opted against bringing successful an alternative, portion Man City re-signed Ilkay Gundogan from Barcelona, but the experienced Germany planetary has struggled to deed the aforesaid heights helium managed successful his archetypal spell astatine the Etihad.

Could Arsenal person a concealed limb successful Zubimendi race?

© IconSport

Liverpool and Man City whitethorn beryllium considered the frontrunners for Zubimendi's signature astatine this juncture, but the Reds' rubric rivals Arsenal should not beryllium discounted for much than 1 reason.

Both Thomas Partey and Jorginho could beryllium moved connected successful the summertime window, which would permission Mikel Arteta highly abbreviated of screen successful the fig six role, and Arsenal already person a bully narration with Real Sociedad acknowledgment to their erstwhile dealings with Mikel Merino and Kieran Tierney.

Those transfers were brokered erstwhile Edu was Arsenal's sporting director, but the Gunners were rocked by the daze quality of his resignation successful the autumn, and Olabe himself is thought to beryllium 1 of the starring candidates to regenerate him.

The Real Sociedad main erstwhile signed Arteta arsenic a subordinate successful 2004, and if the 57-year-old does so capable Edu's boots successful North London, the Gunners would seemingly person a immense boost successful their efforts to triumph the contention for Zubimendi.

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