Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi is allegedly regretting his decision to snub a summer transfer to Liverpool amid his side's poor start to the season.
Despite also being courted by the likes of Barcelona and Arsenal, the 25-year-old appeared to be on the verge of moving to Arne Slot's side in a €60m (£50.5m) summer switch.
Real Sociedad would have been powerless to prevent their academy graduate from moving on thanks to the release clause in his contract, but Zubimendi ultimately decided that he could not leave his boyhood team behind.
Since snubbing the Reds to continue in the Basque Country, Zubimendi has experienced a difficult start to 2024-25 with Real Sociedad, who have won just one of their first six games of the La Liga season.
Zubimendi was on target against Rayo Vallecano on the opening weekend, but that effort was just a consolation goal in a 2-1 loss, and Real Sociedad have suffered defeat to Real Madrid and Mallorca in their last two without scoring.
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Zubimendi 'asks' Liverpool to reignite interest
With just four points accrued from a possible 18 so far, Imanol Alguacil's side sit in a lowly 16th place in the early-season La Liga standings, and according to Estadio Deportivo, Zubimendi is now having second thoughts.
The Spain international has supposedly gone as far as to ask Liverpool to make another move for him when the transfer market opens for business again in January, having also become disenchanted with the club's sporting vision.
Even though Zubimendi opted to stay in San Sebastian, Real Sociedad lost Mikel Merino to Arsenal and key defender Robin Le Normand to Atletico Madrid, and they have failed to adequately replace those two cornerstones.
Liverpool could still bring Zubimendi to the Premier League for just over £50m, as the midfielder has not agreed a new contract since the summer transfer saga; his current agreement runs until the summer of 2027.
Zubimendi has registered nine goals and seven assists in 194 matches for Real Sociedad since coming through their youth system, winning one Copa del Rey and also helping Spain triumph at this year's European Championships.
Could Liverpool grant Zubimendi his wish?
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One cannot knock Zubimendi for not wanting to take a leap of faith over the summer, as the midfielder's connection to his boyhood club is evidently very strong, and it is not easy for every player to leave familiar surroundings behind.
Zubimendi's initial rejection may not totally hamper his efforts to secure a winter move to Anfield, though, as reports have suggested that the Reds still want to strengthen their engine room midway through the season.
Since moving on from the Real Sociedad fulcrum, Liverpool have witnessed Ryan Gravenberch enjoy a positive start to the season in the number six slot, while Wataru Endo and Tyler Morton are providing backup.
Endo and Morton's long-term futures are hardly set in stone, though, so there may very well be scope for Zubimendi to get his dream move to Merseyside in January, albeit a few months later than planned.
Whether the powers-that-be will sanction a £50m+ switch is another question entirely, though, as sporting director Richard Hughes is also dealing with the contract situations of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Ben Knapton
