Liverpool’s transfer window has been moving at a snail’s pace since the end of the season.
The Reds had never looked likely to be as busy as they were last summer when four new players were brought in.
However, supporters had still expected to see some business done to give Arne Slot the best possible chance of success at Liverpool.
There are one or two holes in the Liverpool squad which could do with addressing and the hope was that new sporting director Richard Hughes would be the right man to do that.
After a patient beginning, Hughes began to show his qualities on Wednesday as Liverpool close in on Martin Zubimendi. The plan looks like it’s starting to be executed to stunning perfection.
Richard Hughes looking for two ‘key elements’
Defensive midfield has been an issue for Liverpool ever since Fabinho’s form fell off a cliff in 2022.
Liverpool tried to fix the problem last year, but Moises Caicedo wanted to join Chelsea. The failed pursuit of Caicedo was one of a number of errors the Reds made with Jorg Schmadtke as sporting director.
Schmadtke was only ever going to be a temporary fix, though. With Hughes now in place along with FSG’s CEO of football Michael Edwards, Liverpool were hoping to move a little smarter in the market.
The potential signing of Zubimendi would suggest that the ‘old’ Liverpool are now very much back.
READ MORE: What Liverpool could do in the transfer market if Martin Zubimendi turns them down
The big question now on supporters’ lips will be what the Reds plan on doing next. Will a new centre-back and a wide forward be targeted, as has been suggested.
According to journalist Paul Gorst, if they are, Liverpool fans should keep their eye on two ‘key elements’ that Hughes has been instructed to target players within.
“Two key elements of Liverpool’s summer business were thought to have been Richard Hughes’ knowledge of Spanish (& Italian) market and club’s ability to discover and meet release clauses in contracts,” Gorst says on X.
“Martin Zubimendi interest is perfectly in line with both of those.”
Liverpool to target Spain and Italy
This is a really interesting piece of information from Gorst. It can certainly help to inform what Liverpool may do next.
Of course, it might happen that the Reds are happy enough with just Zubimendi and decide that they won’t do any further business. That is entirely plausible.
However, with one eye on a new defender in particular, Liverpool fans should now be scouring both Italy and Spain for potential targets.
As for release clauses, they are often in the public domain but sometimes aren’t, as was the case with Alexis Mac Allister last year.
With a big couple of weeks likely to come for Liverpool, work is surely being done around the clock to unearth the right players in these markets.
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