Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher says that the Reds' pursuit of Martin Zubimendi could have been different had Jurgen Klopp still been in charge at Anfield . The deal fell through on Monday when the player opted to stay with Real Sociedad.
"I think it was going quite well until the news that we got in the last 24 hours that the signing the manager wanted, almost like his guy, Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad has fallen through," Carragher said on the latest episode of Stick to Football , brought to you by Sky Bet .
"Reading between the lines in terms of reading journalists reports this morning, he had a buy-out clause I think, and he said he would come. Liverpool then go to do the deal and I think the club put a lot of pressure on him to stay.
READ MORE: Mohamed Salah contract and 3 more items should be on Liverpool to-do list as transfer deadline nears
READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Giorgi Mamardashvili bid, Luis Diaz latest, Johan Bakayoko boost
"It wasn’t just a buy-out clause where Liverpool go and pay it, I was reading about it, the player has to almost do it. It was a bit complicated, but it wasn’t as easy as it sounded. But to be honest it’s not a great look for Liverpool.
"They’ve gone for this sitting midfield player, who is a different type of sitting midfield player to what Jurgen Klopp would have gone for: he went for Fabinho ; this guy was obviously more of a footballer, technical player. But a lot has been made of Liverpool bringing the old regime back, in terms of getting deals done and transfers done — and it was always made out that we’re the best in the class, we’re the best in the business, and listen they did a great job.
"But to not get the first deal done for the new manager, the optics are not great, it doesn’t look good at all, and it’s a position Liverpool have been looking for, for probably three seasons. They tried to buy [Aurelien] Tchouameni who went to Real Madrid, they obviously lost [Moises] Caicedo, [Romeo] Lavia, and now they’ve lost this player."
It remains to be seen whether or not Liverpool will move for an alternative option this summer , with the number six position having been a priority for some time — but only if the right profile is available. Zubimendi was viewed as a big opportunity in the market with Liverpool believing that he was open to a transfer.
"The interesting thing with Liverpool, even under [Jurgen] Klopp, so do you remember the [Virgil] Van Dijk situation, where it was a mess up? They waited for him," Carragher continued.
"They’ve done it with other players, and I don’t know whether it was a Jurgen Klopp way of doing things, or if it was the club where it was like, ‘this is the guy we want, and if we are not getting the one we want, we are going to wait for whoever’. It’s not like go and get option number two or number three. So, it remains to be seen but they are seriously lacking in that role [number six midfielder].
"People speak about Liverpool’s way of doing things — you can’t underestimate how important Jurgen Klopp was in getting players to come. So, we talk about the transfer committee and they did this, they did that — what Liverpool are brilliant at is bringing transfer fees in.
"And that’s nothing to do with the manager because I think when a manager wants a player to go, the club gets on with that and you know, you probably know that better than anyone [points at Roy Keane]. Liverpool got a great fee the other day for [Fabio] Carvalho to Brentford — that’s what they are brilliant at.
"But in terms of bringing people in, I think the manager plays a big role in that, and this is not me having a go at Arne Slot, obviously don’t know the guy, but when Virgil van Dijk is coming to Liverpool, when Liverpool was third or fourth in the league — I think it’s the Klopp factor that gets them.
"I think there would be more chance if Jurgen Klopp was there [getting Zubimendi transfer over the line]. Maybe just his personality, but to be fair to this lad, I think the region he comes from, the Basque region, Real Sociedad and Bilbao [Athletic Club], the players who come through the ranks.
"And I’ll be honest, a lad of 25, who’s just won the European Championships, playing for Real Sociedad, and I know it’s his hometown club — but I think that is the time you make your move to the Premier League . It’s not a Liverpool thing, it's Champions League football, the Premier League."
Liverpool.com says: The Reds really need to find an alternative to Zubimendi having made it clear that position was a priority for an upgrade. Wataru Endo did well enough at times last season but his limitations are clear. Arne Slot has a good squad but his midfield could easily look a little light with a couple of injuries, which are inevitable.
Most Popular
Comments / 0