How Liverpool’s XI could look under Arne Slot next season with Martin Zubimendi in midfield

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Liverpool have finally blinked in the transfer window as they push forward with a move for Martin Zubimendi.

Having touched down back in England following their summer tour to the USA, it had looked likely that the Reds were set to ramp up their transfer activity.

And after claims that Liverpool could sign as many as four players, sporting director Richard Hughes has laid down the gauntlet.

Liverpool are pushing to sign Zubimendi from Real Sociedad in what would be a major addition to Arne Slot’s midfield.

The 25-year-old is a silky player who lit up the Euro 2024 final after being brought on at half-time. And although it won’t be easy to sign Zubimendi, we like the look of a Liverpool XI with the Spaniard in it.

Liverpool’s XI with Martin Zubimendi

Liverpool supporters should be careful not to get too ahead of themselves. Zubimendi has form for turning down big transfers.

The Spain international is a boyhood fan of Real Sociedad having grown up in San Sebastian. It should not be taken for granted that he’s on his way to Anfield.

Nevertheless, the prospect of him in the Liverpool midfield alongside any of the players in Slot’s first-team squad is a mouth-watering one.

Obviously, Zubimendi would not have any influence over the team that is picked around him, but he would invariably make it better.

Alisson Becker in defence, with Andy Robertson at left-back and Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right is the bedrock for the great Liverpool teams of Jurgen Klopp. That should remain. As will Virgil van Dijk being at centre-half.

Based on pre-season form, we’re sticking Jarell Quansah in ahead of Ibrahima Konate, but either would be fine by us.

READ MORE: Kieran Tierney shares why Martin Zubimendi is now a ‘world class’ midfielder

Then, we get to the exciting part. Assuming Zubimendi is a starter, we’d play him alongside Alexis Mac Allister. Both wonderful, smart technicians and robust tacklers, you could easily see the European champion and the champion of the Americas forming a brilliant partnership.

In front of them, Dominik Szoboszlai could roam in a slightly more free role, adding height to proceedings where necessary.

Finally, a front three of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz has excitement written all over it. What a team!

Liverpool XI with Martin Zubimendi: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Zubimendi, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Diaz

How close is a deal for Zubimendi?

After waiting for so long, this was the transfer news every Liverpool supporter had been hoping for on Wednesday.

Given that we’re now comfortably into August as well, the bonus is that things have to be sorted out quickly.

There’s no room for summer-long sagas anymore. It either gets done or it doesn’t. Either way, we should find out very quickly which way things are headed.

As Zubimendi has rejected the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona in the past, we’d suggest that if he does not fancy the move at all, it will become apparent very early on.

However, the fact that Liverpool have gone so public with this information would suggest that the usually private club are confident of getting a deal done. We may have had to wait for concrete updates, but we won’t have to wait long anymore.