Barcelona has seemingly cleared the path for Liverpool to make a move for Martin Zubimendi this summer after Hansi Flick outlined his plans.
The Reds are weighing up a move for the Real Sociedad midfielder , as per The Times and other sources. The 25-year-old has a release clause of $65m (£51m/€60m), with Arne Slot seemingly prioritizing his signing as he looks for a new No.6.
Signing him though might not be as easy as just triggering that clause. Zubimendia has publicly snubbed moves to Barcelona and Arsenal in the past (as per The Standard ), although the former continues to be linked with a move to the Camp Nou.
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Earlier this summer, Spanish outlet Sport suggested Barca’s sporting director Deco had met with Zubimendi’s agent, with the midfielder keen on the move. That was back in May though, and nothing seems to have materialized since.
Zubimendi is held in high regard in Spain, and has been earmarked as a potential heir to Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets. Indeed, the man himself even named him alongside Rodri as his top choices before departing last year.
"I think that if we want to continue with the philosophy that we have lived during Barça's best period and that our coach has also lived and believes in blindly, Zubimendi and Rodri are spectacular, they are perhaps the most similar,” Busquets told Sport .
New Barca boss Flick though has seemingly ruled out making a move for Zubimendi this summer, or any other midfielder for that matter.
“We have several quality players in midfield, some of them are injured now but they will be back,” the former Bayern Munich boss said (via Fabrizio Romano ). “I think we are well covered in that position.”
That news will no doubt be greeted by Liverpool as it seemingly opens the door for the Reds to make a move without one serious competitor. They still might not have it all their own way though, with HITC suggesting Manchester United is also interested.
Liverpool.com says: Zubimendi might prove to be a tough nut to crack, considering how vocal he has been about staying put at Sociedad. Nevertheless, it will come as a huge boost for Liverpool to know that Barcelona probably won’t be in the race this summer. Hopefully the Reds can succeed where Barca and Arsenal have seemingly failed by convincing him on a move to Anfield.
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