Liverpool was patient in the transfer market all summer long . Arne Slot was right when he said there were very few options out there that were realistically attainable and would improve his squad — but then one was identified.
Real Sociedad holding midfielder Martin Zubimendi would be a big upgrade on what Liverpool already has in that department. He would also represent a profile that has been chased for some time after the failed pursuits of Aurelien Tchouameni , who only wanted Real Madrid , and Moises Caicedo , who opted for Chelsea .
Despite Zubimendi having a $66m (£51m/€60m) release clause, Liverpool has been locked in talks about how the deal would be structured . While claims of players being included in part exchange are wide of the mark, according to the ECHO , the player is also taking some convincing to make the move away from his boyhood club.
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As tends to be the case with these things, if an hour or two go by without a positive update, some corners of social media start to descend into a meltdown. Liverpool, though, will be significantly calmer.
The fact is, such a heart versus head decision is something that Liverpool has faced before. Steven Gerrard could have left more than once but ended up opting to stay with the club he loved. It is undeniably true that he could have won more trophies elsewhere but chose to chase the elusive Premier League title while leading his team.
Zubimendi is the poster boy of La Real and has grown up in the region. That is where he has ties and where he and his family are comfortable and happy. He is living the dream of almost every child in that part of Spain.
Like his idol Xabi Alonso , though, he also has the possibility on the table of joining one of Europe's elite sides. It looks like a no-brainer but at the very least, it does his image no harm to make it look like he has been wrenched away even if Zubimendi does eventually land on the side of moving to Merseyside.
Real Sociedad is a club in the Champions League and Zubimendi has just won the European Championship with Spain, doing an excellent job against England in the final. Liverpool would be a big step up, but there is also a huge pull tugging at his heartstrings.
It would be hypocritical for Liverpool not to understand the tough decision facing Zubimendi given the Gerrard comparison, though there must surely have been some encouragement that he was open to the move for the Reds to have opened talks with Real Sociedad. It remains more than possible that the Reds could succeed where Arsenal and others have failed and get the deal done.
But the impact of leaving your boyhood club should not be underestimated. Given Trent Alexander-Arnold is inside the final year of his contract and Real Madrid would love to sign him on a free transfer, it would be unwise for Liverpool and its fans to think anything different.
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