When Richard Hughes flew again from San Sebastian after what had been optimistic conversations with Martin Zubimendi and consultant Inaki Ibanez, it’s going to have felt like a coup.
Zubimendi had already turned down Arsenal and Bayern Munich in favour of staying with Actual Sociedad, however the probability to hitch Liverpool was one other matter.
Besides an emotional pitch from the membership he has referred to as dwelling for the reason that age of 12 prompted a U-turn from the 25-year-old midfielder and, now informing Hughes he didn’t intend to maneuver, left Liverpool at an deadlock.
It has been extensively reported that Zubimendi was the Reds’ precedence goal, and extra frustratingly for supporters additionally their sole goal for the position this summer season.
Journalists on Merseyside and past have claimed that it’s now unlikely that the membership will signal one other No. 6 earlier than the switch window closes on August 30.
Liverpool’s new midfield plan
As a substitute, Ryan Gravenberch is poised to move into the marketing campaign as first selection within the position, with Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai held up as alternate options together with the one specialist within the squad, Wataru Endo.
Endo is, in fact, not Arne Slot‘s favoured possibility, with it having been anticipated that the 31-year-old would depart had Zubimendi arrived.
There have been optimistic indicators with Gravenberch because the deepest of the three midfielders within the new head coach’s fluid 4-2-3-1 throughout pre-season, along with his shut management and composure on the ball making him the go-to candidate in a extra affected person system.
A participant of huge potential who may have been on Slot’s radar since earlier than his breakthrough in Ajax’s first group in 2018, the hope is that the Dutchman can flourish in his new place.
However supporters might be forgiven for a well-recognized feeling round this improvement, with Liverpool once more pressured to make do after a high-profile failure within the No. 6 market.
Missed alternatives
Restored to Fenway Sports activities Group’s payroll this summer season following the departure of Jurgen Klopp, Michael Edwards and Julian Ward may have noticed the markers of Fabinho‘s decline earlier than most.
The Brazilian was amongst plenty of gamers of their late 20s to be handed new long-term contracts in the summertime of 2021, however members of the membership’s recruitment workers had reservations over that slew of offers.
Jordan Henderson was handed a four-year contract, working past his thirty fifth birthday, whereas Fabinho was given a five-year deal to take him to 33.
Sky Sports activities‘ Melissa Reddy later reported that there have been issues that “the squad was veering away from the ‘proper soccer age’.”
Fabinho produced certainly one of his greatest seasons in a Liverpool shirt in 2021/22, however the next marketing campaign noticed him drop off significantly, with him and Henderson then transferring to Saudi Arabia final summer season.
Liverpool had tried to right the problem with the pursuit of Aurelien Tchouameni in 2022, the Frenchman recognized as a uncommon alternative in a market of few elite-potential No. 6s.
That transfer failed, with Tchouameni becoming a member of Actual Madrid, whereas the next summer season – with Jorg Schmadtke in for the short-term to switch Ward as sporting director – noticed two messy rejections from Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.
It’s a weird scenario, with Liverpool repeatedly unable to land their prime targets for probably the most urgent difficulty of their squad.
After a rerun this summer season with Zubimendi, the membership seem desperate to keep away from any short-term fixes out there that would lead them into the place they discover themselves with Endo a yr on from his £16 million swap from Stuttgart.
Nevertheless, whereas it has been maintained that the Spain worldwide was the one viable candidate that might enhance Slot’s beginning lineup, there are real questions over whether or not Liverpool can afford to proceed their ready sport.
Are there not different No. 6s?
A convincing case might be made for this all-or-nothing method within the transformative signings of Alisson and Virgil van Dijk, however there are various others that show the advantage to find alternate options.
Earlier than Mohamed Salah, there was Julian Brandt; earlier than Sadio Mane, there was Mario Gotze; earlier than Gini Wijnaldum, there was Piotr Zielinski; and earlier than Dominik Szoboszlai, there was Mason Mount.
It’s truthful to say that the marketplace for elite-level No. 6s is sparse, however the membership’s knowledge group will little doubt pay attention to the likes of Ederson at Atalanta, Morten Hjulmand at Sporting CP and Angelo Stiller at Stuttgart.
Look even nearer and the names Bruno Guimaraes and Adam Wharton would possible seem on the checklist of defensive midfielders who couldn’t solely elevate Slot’s squad but in addition swimsuit his system – with each virtually actually obtainable for the suitable value.
If Liverpool’s new-look hierarchy are resolved that it’s Zubimendi or nobody this summer season, they will no less than be acknowledged for sticking to their beliefs.
However after three consecutive summers of failing to handle the largest difficulty within the squad, it is just proper to ask: at what price?
Klopp’s Liverpool had been at their most suffocatingly profitable with a world-class No. 6 within the aspect in Fabinho, and it’s no coincidence that they’ve didn’t go the gap upon his decline and later departure.
In the meantime, Arsenal have developed into a real title challenger after bringing in each Declan Rice and Jorginho and Man Metropolis – verdict on their 115 prices pending – stay an omnipotent drive with Rodri on the base of their midfield.
Issues may nonetheless change, significantly as it’s well-known that Liverpool favor to function within the shadows, solely feeding the media when it fits them.
But when they fail to land Zubimendi after which decide out of signing one other No. 6 fully, they threat standing nonetheless whereas their rivals transfer ahead with out them, leaving Slot with out the instruments he arguably requires to kill them with passes.
