Liverpool failed to persuade Martin Zubimendi to join the club for £52 million.
Real Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil has stated that there is no certainty Martin Zubimendi will remain with the club before the transfer window closes.
The San Sebastian side’s 2024-25 La Liga season began with a 2-1 loss to Rayo Vallecano yesterday night. Zubimendi scored a 98th-minute consolation after coming off the bench.
Earlier this week, the midfielder turned down a £52 million deal with Liverpool. Zubimendi, who helped Spain win Euro 2024, has decided to continue with his boyhood club. Sociedad has already traded Robin Le Normand to Athletic Madrid, while Arsenal has expressed interest in Mikel Merino.
And Alguacil has stated that he is still unsure whether Zubimendi would stay at the Reale Arena before the window closes on August 30. He told Marca: “It hasn’t been complicated at all; it happens every year to all coaches, teams, and sporting directors. Every summer, there’s movement. Merino and the Normand? There are no two players alike. And I won’t even tell you if Zubimendi abandons us at the last minute.
“They are irreplaceable players.” Because of what they’ve done, Le Normand is departing, Arsenal wants Merino, and Liverpool is willing to pay Zubimendi’s release clause. But we can’t always blame Merino and Le Normand when things don’t go our way.
Zubimendi was only able to make one replacement appearance in preseason following the Euros. Alguacil claimed that the 25-year-old has been under ‘great strain’ recently due to speculation about his future.
Alguacil went further: “The first two changes were more tactical, but Martín has not started because yesterday he told me that he was not fit, he has been under incredible pressure, but today I told him to make an effort, because of the yellow card that Urko has received.”
