Paul Joyce says Liverpool’s pursuit of Martin Zubimendi has just taken another big twist

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Liverpool manager Arne Slot has decided that Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi is the perfect candidate to install his possession-based game next season.

Take what you will from it, but Liverpool have been superb in pre-season, perhaps putting a swift end to any thoughts of a post Jurgen Klopp slump.

In fairness, Slot has inherited an excellent squad from Klopp, one that was already partly revamped last summer.

Klopp oversaw an overhaul of his midfield, and the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai are now flagship players for the club.

Unfortunately, Klopp didn’t quite finish the job – and that’s where Zubimendi comes in.

Liverpool want Zubimendi, and the Spaniard reportedly shares the same feeling.

That being said, David Ornstein recently shared some obstacles Liverpool will need to overcome to sign Zubimendi, a deal that isn’t going to be easy.

And journalist Paul Joyce has just provided an update suggesting that the saga has just taken a big twist, with the Basque club now attempting to keep their midfield star.

Real Sociedad now have plan to keep Martin Zubimendi from joining Liverpool

Sharing his update in a report for The Times, Joyce explained that Real Sociedad have now launched a ‘charm offensive’ to keep Zubimendi at the club.

As reported, the 25-year-old has rejected advances from clubs in the past, and Sociedad may feel as if they have a realistic chance of convincing the Spaniard to stay.

Neither Barcelona or Arsenal have managed to prise Zubimendi away from his boyhood club in recent years, and Liverpool fans may now fear that could be the situation again.

That being said, Richard Hughes’ relationship with Zubimendi’s agent, Inaki Ibanez could still be a decisive factor.

As reported by Joyce, Ibanez knows Hughes well given the sporting director brought Andoni Iraola (also managed by Ibanez) to Bournemouth a year ago.

READ MORE: ‘Dangerous’ player has decided to reject Liverpool and join another club this summer

Zubimendi really does seem like the last piece of the puzzle for this Liverpool team, which may feel like an odd statement given he’d be the first signing to arrive at Anfield.

But as mentioned, Klopp left such a complete squad behind, one capable of being moulded to any new style.

All that being said, Jamie Carragher thinks Liverpool have three players who can’t run, explaining why he may not think Zubimendi is the right signing.