Liverpool fans may have been left feeling a little perplexed by the latest development in the chase for Martin Zubimendi. The good news is though that there is a way around the latest curveball thrown by Real Sociedad .
The Reds remain in the hunt for Zubimendi as the new Premier League season draws closer, although they aren’t being given an easy ride by Sociedad. The La Liga club has already lost Robin Le Normand and Mikel Merino looks set to join him out of the exit door, so they aren’t keen on losing another of their stars to say the least.
According to The Times , if Zubimendi is to decide he wants a move to Liverpool, he will have to trigger his own exit clause . That would involve him having to deposit the full sum – believed to be $66m (£51m/€60m) – himself at the La Liga offices in Madrid.
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If that seems a little odd, it is worth noting that it is common practice in Spain. In essence, it is a buy-out clause, rather than a release clause, but the good news is Liverpool will be able to help Zubimendi in the matter.
As Sky Sports explains, the clause legally requires a player to ‘buy out’ their own contract. The club that they are moving to though still pays the amount required to the player, who then deposits the fee to La Liga and is released from his terms.
The process can be made complex due to tax implications and logistical challenges, but in practice not much will change for Liverpool. FSG is believed to have money in the bank which would help should Zubimendi decide on a move to Anfield , and has utilized its credit facility in the past in order to complete big one-off payments.
The bad news for Liverpool is that this development suggests Sociedad is not willing to budge on the clause, meaning there will likely be no room for negotiations on the fee. And of course, there is still the challenge of convincing Zubimendi on the move to Merseyside, with the midfielder still wrestling with the prospect of leaving his boyhood club .
Liverpool.com says: In essence, nothing really changes for Liverpool except it’s looking increasingly likely they won’t be able to negotiate a lower fee for Zubimendi. The decision on whether he makes the move to Anfield still comes down to the player, which would have always been the case with a more conventional release clause.
It’s a difficult position for Zubimendi, who will no doubt feel as though he will be burning bridges with his boyhood club if he wants to move on. Making the move to Liverpool though would show ambition on his part, and he should go through with it.
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