Martin Zubimendi rejection means £34m Liverpool player now has a big unexpected chance at Liverpool

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Liverpool have been dealt a big blow in the transfer market with Martin Zubimendi turning down a move to Anfield.

The Reds had identified Zubimendi as the man they needed to complete their midfield rebuild, which began under Jurgen Klopp last year.

But although it had looked like Zubimendi would be perfect for Liverpool in their new-look system under Arne Slot, the 25-year-old wants to stay at Real Sociedad.

Although a disappointing decision, it had always felt likely that Zubimendi would be ultimately impossible to prize from the Basque club.

More worryingly, Liverpool have not targeted an alternative to the Spaniard, meaning Slot will have to head into the new season with what he has. While there will be frustration around Anfield at that fact, it won’t be bad news for everybody.

Ryan Gravenberch now in Liverpool’s best XI

After analysing his first-team squad during the recent visit to the United States, Slot clearly told the Liverpool owners that he wanted a midfielder in Zubimendi’s ilk.

Although the Reds do have plenty of options in the middle of the pitch, they don’t really have a controller such as the Euro 2024 winner.

Nevertheless, with Zubimendi now off the table – and no one being highlighted as a second choice – Slot will have to make the best of what he has already.

On Sunday, with Liverpool sweeping Sevilla aside, Ryan Gravenberch started alongside Alexis Mac Allister in the ‘Zubimendi role.’

READ MORE: Liverpool ‘seriously considering’ another signing after losing out on Martin Zubimendi

With Mac Allister likely an undisputed starter and Dominik Szoboszlai looking good in a more advanced role, that now has the look of being Liverpool’s starting midfield.

Gravenberch was excellent against Sevilla. The Dutchman had a mixed first season at Anfield after a £34m move from Bayern Munich. But with more of a pre-season under his belt this year, he now looks ready.

If Slot can unlock Gravenberch’s potential and nail down a role for him, then there is a strong argument that Liverpool never needed Zubimendi anyway.

The difficulty will obviously be in re-training Gravenberch to the exact specifications of the job the head coach wants him to do. Had a new man been brought in, there wouldn’t have been a huge need to do that. Now that that is not happening, the No.38 is the obvious answer.

What about Curtis Jones?

Initially in pre-season, the main beneficiary of Slot’s intention to play with two sitting midfielders had looked like being Curtis Jones.

Jones gushed about Slot’s tactics and claimed that they will suit his game down to the ground. He looked poised to take advantage.

However, Slot’s decision to start Gravenberch in Liverpool’s best XI on Sunday despite him having less of a pre-season than Jones was incredibly telling.

The 22-year-old has looked better suited to the No.6 role than Jones in his short time in pre-season and it looks like he has jumped the queue ahead of the academy graduate.

Now likely to start Saturday’s Premier League opener with Ipswich Town, Gravenberch has suddenly – and unexpectedly – become part of Liverpool’s best XI.