Liverpool may have been handed a lifeline in their hunt for Martin Zubimendi after the Real Sociedad midfielder declined to join the Reds. In what was a surprise to many, the 25-year-old chose to stay in Spain over a move to Anfield which has left Arne Slot’s side as the only Premier League team to not make a signing this summer.
Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil previously hailed the star for not leaving his club, saying that Zubimendi’s decision to stay rather than leave has ‘value’ after the La Liga side knew there would be high-profile teams from across the continent coming to sign him. Despite that though, Alguacil is now refusing to rule out the prospect of Zubimendi leaving, conceding that following Sunday’s disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Rayo Vallecano that he cannot rule out a late twist in the saga.
He claimed: “This happens every year [teams coming for their players]. “[It happens] to everyone, to all the managers and sporting directors, every summer there’s movement… Merino and Le Normand? There are no two players like them. And I won’t even tell you [about] if Zubimendi leaves or not last minute.
“They are all unreal players. …due to the things that they’ve done with us, Le Normand has left, Arsenal want Merino and Liverpool was willing to pay Zubimendi’s clause. But we can’t find excuses every time there’s no Merino and Le Normand.”
Elsewhere, Newcastle United may be planning to sell as many as four players in this summer’s transfer window in order to sign Liverpool defender Joe Gomez. The Magpies have been in constant contact with Crystal Palace around a potential deal for Marc Guehi but the Eagles are steadfast in their £70m valuation of the 24-year-old, leaving Eddie Howe’s side in a bind.
It’s believed that Newcastle have submitted four offers for Guehi, the most recent of which came in at a total bid worth £65m, but each has been swiftly rejected. Now they’re set to turn their attentions back to Gomez according to TEAMtalk, following a deal earlier on in the summer that saw the two sides agree on a £45m package for the Reds defender.
Gomez was previously set for move to St James’ Park as part of a deal that would have seen Anthony Gordon head to Anfield.
