£52m player’s agents know Liverpool really well and he’s pushing for the move

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Liverpool’s transfer window got interesting this week as they finally made their first moves.

The Reds have decided to keep a low profile throughout the summer so far, instead focusing on getting their current players up to speed under Arne Slot.

However, having worked with his first-team squad for more than a month now, the new head coach has decided what he needs adding to it.

With just a week to go before the Premier League season kicks off with a trip to face Ipswich Town, there’s really no time to lose for Liverpool.

Thankfully, things seem to have taken a step in the right direction for the Reds to bring their first new face of the off-season to Anfield.

Martin Zubimendi wants Liverpool move

Liverpool never seem to make things easy for themselves during the transfer window anymore.

Gone are the days when deals for the likes of Fabinho and Diogo Jota were done in virtual silence. The Reds have seen lengthy pursuits of at least two top targets go wrong in the last years.

In 2022, Aurelien Tchouameni turned Liverpool down for Real Madrid, while last year Moises Caicedo decided he only wanted Chelsea.

Both players would have gone some way to solving Liverpool’s need for a Fabinho successor. But they missed out on the pair of them.

This year, the Reds have targeted Martin Zubimendi as the man they really want to be their new holding midfielder.

READ MORE: What Liverpool could do in the transfer market if Martin Zubimendi turns them down

However, Zubimendi is in danger of turning Liverpool down, too. The 25-year-old is trying to decide whether to leave his hometown club Real Sociedad.

Zubimendi’s advisors are urging him to join Liverpool, though, and according to journalist Florian Plettenberg, the Spaniard has now made a positive decision.

“FC Liverpool are pushing to sign Martin Zubimendi with ongoing talks,” he says. “25 y/o midfielder is keen to join LFC with immediate effect. His agency Idub Global with best connections to Liverpool as they are also managing Xavi Alonso.

“It’s unclear whether Liverpool has to pay the €60m [£52m] release clause or whether free negotiations are possible,” Plettenberg adds.

Martin Zubimendi gets closer to Liverpool

Some Liverpool supporters will no doubt be beginning to get impatient with Zubimendi. Haunted by Tchouameni and Caicedo, they’ll fear a hat-trick of rejections.

However, it cannot be overstated just how difficult a decision this looks to be for the Euro 2024 winner.

He only recently pledged that he will definitely be at Real Sociedad next season. To go back on that statement would likely make him a pariah to the fans who previously adored him.

If it were a Liverpool player in his shoes, we’d all want them to turn down whoever was trying to lure them away.

Nevertheless, we ultimately think La Real will end up heartbroken. Journalist Fabrizio Romano says Zubimendi thinks Liverpool are ‘special‘ and it feels like his decision has pretty much been made.