Martin Zubimendi hinted at outcome of Liverpool transfer gamble that has now backfired

Liverpool can’t say they weren’t warned. While the Reds might have initially been told unequivocally that Martin Zubimendi wanted to leave Real Sociedad during the transfer window, it can’t have been that much of a surprise when he informed them that they would actually be staying put in San Sebastian.

The club’s interest in the Euro 2024 winner was confirmed last Wednesday, two days after he had reported back for the start of pre-season training.

Yet after seemingly dallying on a definitive decision for five days as Real Sociedad launched into a charm offensive to persuade the 25-year-old to stay put, he belatedly confirmed his change of intentions to Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes on Monday evening.

While there might have been an initial understanding that the Spaniard was open to the move, the Reds still navigated five days where they were attempting to persuade him to proceed with a departure once and for all.

In truth, Liverpool can’t bemoan his loyalty too much - even if it is accompanied by accusations of a lack of ambition. They have been on the other side of such a saga before, longing for a talismanic local star to reject the lure of a lucrative switch to a side more capable of delivering him silverware.

But the possibility of this transfer saga ending in such a way cannot be a shock. Zubimendi is a player who has rejected the advances of the likes of Arsenal and Bayern Munich in the past, after all.

"They are just rumours, I am happy at Real Sociedad, it is like my home," Zubimendi told Marca back in April. "I cannot say that I will play my entire career at Real Sociedad, perhaps the club does not want me to continue in the future. And I am not worried about those rumours."

Meanwhile, while away with Spain at Euro 2024, he went further as made his intentions perfectly clear, signalling his intent to stay put in San Sebastian.

"Where am I going to play next season? I'm going to be at Real Sociedad,” he answered emphatically in an interview with El Diario Vasco, via Estadio Deportivo. “I have a contract with Real Sociedad and that's where I feel most comfortable.”

He would also admit that he considers speculation about his future a frustrating distraction.

"Yes, it bothered me,” he said. “And it even got to the point of distracting me a little from what I had to do”, before reiterating that he had ‘no problem’ continuing to play for La Real this season.

He would have had to go back on that stance if he had been to leave the La Liga outfit. The same as Steven Gerrard would have had to backtrack on a very public, ‘How can I leave after a night like this?’ when asked about his own future directly after Liverpool’s famous Champions League final win over AC Milan in Istanbul in 2005.

He would get closer to the exit door that summer when pursued by Chelsea than Zubimendi ever did, even going so far as to confirm his desire to leave Anfield before performing an 11th hour U-turn.

It would have been naïve of Reds bosses if they were not conscious of the possibility that the Spaniard would U-turn despite privately giving them his word.

He continued to train with Real Sociedad as normal, he travelled with them to Berlin on Thursday and played for them against Union Berlin on Friday. Taking a further 48 hours to inform Liverpool of his decision, these were not the actions of a player desperate to leave his boyhood club.

So what next for the Reds? Well it is unlikely that they will now attempt to sign another defensive midfielder this summer with less than three weeks remaining before the August 30 transfer deadline.

That stance is questionable and will inevitably be criticised and scrutinised. To put all your eggs in one basket, pursuing a player who would very clearly need some convincing to move to Anfield, was a big gamble.

It was only 12 months ago when Liverpool last found themselves in this position, making a late move for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo. An £111m deal was agreed with the Seagulls after they were led to believe the Ecuadorian was open to the move.

But after pencilling in a medical, it became clear that the Reds had been used to force through a move elsewhere. Caicedo was only interested in joining Chelsea. Yet their move for the midfielder was only 11th hour in itself, rather than him being a priority after a summer-long search.

Such a saga took place after the season started, with Liverpool then moving for Wataru Endo in a left-field switch from VfB Stuttgart. Time will tell if they can find a suitable alternative now, or stand by their unlikely to sign a defensive midfielder stance.

Regardless, neither transfer saga has not been a good look for the Reds, with this latest episode damaging for a new regime trying to establish itself outside of Klopp's shadow.

The new season gets underway in just four days, and they remain the only Premier League side yet to strengthen their squad. If anything, it has gotten weaker, with possible permanent exits for a number of their most-talented youngsters also not going down well in a perplexed fanbase.

Hughes previously predicted a transfer crescendo in August, while Slot admitted he would be surprised if his squad wasn’t strengthened before the transfer window closes on August 30. With little over two weeks to go until the deadline, they are racing against the clock to improve on an inherited squad that, while exceeding expectations last season, still fell short when it mattered most.

Zubimendi might have been ‘bothered’ by the speculation regarding his future earlier in the summer, but the only ones who have been left frustrated is Liverpool. Demonstrating a lack of foresight at the very least, like it or not, in part, they have only themselves to blame.