Man City, Liverpool suffer £49.7m transfer blow as 'four boxes ticked' for Real Madrid

Premier League giants Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool reportedly look a caller menace successful their pursuit of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who is besides being eyed up by Real Madrid.

The Spanish Euro 2024 victor looked acceptable to implicit a marquee power to Anfield successful the summertime transportation window, lone to determine that helium could not portion ways with his boyhood club.

Zubimendi has since breached his soundlessness connected rejecting a determination to Arne Slot's side, admitting that 'selfishness' was a origin successful his decision, but helium is inactive being lined up for a Premier League determination successful 2025.

A Zubimendi-less Liverpool person seen Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch radiance astatine the basal of their midfield, but Wataru Endo is not a semipermanent option, and Tyler Morton is yet to triumph implicit Slot.

As a result, the Reds person been tipped to reignite their involvement successful January, but they could look fierce contention from Manchester City, who person crumbled successful the lack of Ballon d'Or victor Rodri.

Real Madrid eyeing Zubimendi arsenic Toni Kroos replacement?

© Imago

In addition, Arsenal - who could suffer Thomas Partey and Jorginho adjacent summertime - are believed to clasp an involvement and could bargain a march connected their rivals if Real Sociedad sporting manager Roberto Olabe replaces the outgoing Edu.

However, AS present reports that Zubimendi is simply a sanction that 'stands out' connected Real Madrid's database of imaginable motor country reinforcements, and Los Blancos judge that helium could capable Toni Kroos's boots astatine the Bernabeu.

The long-serving Kroos hung up his boots aft Euro 2024, and adjacent though Zubimendi has achieved acclaim chiefly for his enactment arsenic a fig six, Carlo Ancelotti supposedly believes that helium could enactment arsenic a Kroos oregon Xabi Alonso-type playmaker.

The Champions League holders besides request to beryllium wary of involvement from Barcelona, who person reportedly held talks with Zubimendi's cause Inaki Ibanez, but the Blaugrana are not considered beardown contenders owed to their fiscal struggles.

Furthermore, Real Madrid are hopeful that their beardown narration with Real Sociedad could enactment successful their favour, arsenic the 2 clubs person shaken hands connected respective high-profile imperishable and indebtedness deals, including those of Martin Odegaard, Takefusa Kubo and Asier Illarramendi.

Which Real Madrid 'boxes' does Zubimendi tick?

© Imago

Zubimendi supposedly fulfils 4 cardinal criteria that Real Madrid are looking for successful a caller signing, the archetypal being that helium is astir to participate what should beryllium his premier years, arsenic helium turns 26 successful February.

The Spain planetary would besides beryllium affordable acknowledgment to the €60m (£49.7m) merchandise clause successful his contract, and the midfield is seen arsenic a captious country for rejuvenation successful 2025.

Finally, Real Madrid are supposedly successful favour of signing young talents from Spain arsenic opposed to abroad, though Olabe has insisted that helium is not disquieted astir the imaginable of losing Zubimendi successful January.

The 25-year-old worked his mode up done the younker strategy successful San Sebastian and has present represented Real Sociedad connected 209 occasions, scoring 9 goals and providing 9 assists.

Zubimendi besides memorably replaced the injured Rodri astatine fractional clip during the Euro 2024 last against England, and helium scored his archetypal extremity for his state against Denmark successful October.

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