It has been a really, very quiet switch window to this point for Liverpool, however it appears to be like just like the six-time European Cup/Champions League winners are able to do some enterprise.

And a few shrewd enterprise at that.

90min understands that the Reds have stepped up their curiosity in Actual Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi this week, seeing him as the proper first signing of the Arne Slot period at Liverpool.

The Spaniard has made a reputation for himself in La Liga and performed a starring position off the bench to assist his nation previous England within the Euro 2024 ultimate, however to exterior audiences his profile remains to be fairly low and his skillset an unknown amount.

So who’s Zubimendi and what would he deliver to Liverpool have been he to hitch?

Zubimendi beforehand described his position as being the “axis of all the things”, and it is a fairly excellent description in case you ask us.

The 25-year-old is the kind of participant who makes a workforce quietly tick, with out ever actually getting your consideration whereas he does so. He is notably sensible at each successful possession again for his workforce – having a excessive duel success price than any of Liverpool’s present midfielders through the 2023/24 season – and retaining possession, finishing 86.4% of his passes in La Liga final season.

That innate potential to do these issues comes from his improbable studying of the sport. Zubimendi is almost all the time in the suitable place on the proper time in the midst of the park, sweeping up and permitting his teammates to go and win video games within the ultimate third.

Precisely what Liverpool want in a quantity six, proper?

Tune in to 90min’s YouTube channel as Jacob Culshaw sits down with Grizz Khan and Zac Alalouff to debate whether or not Martin Zubimendi is the proper first signing for Arne Slot at Liverpool.

In contrast to Alexis Mac Allister, Harvey Elliott and Dominik Szoboszlai, Zubimendi might be by no means going to go and rating you a successful objective.

The truth that he is scored simply seven targets in 187 appearances for Actual Sociedad is proof of that.

That being mentioned, goalscoring is not actually his job on the finish of the day.

In a phrase: brilliantly.

Since rising up by way of the Sociedad youth ranks, Zubimendi has change into the “axis of all the things” for the senior set-up.

Zubimendi is the primary identify on the teamsheet on the Anoeta Stadium, making over 40 appearances in every of the final 4 seasons – hardly ever lacking video games by way of damage in that point. His type has seen him change into probably the most highly-regarded midfielders in Spain, helped Actual Sociedad to a Copa del Rey win and earned him an everyday place within the Spain worldwide set-up.

The obvious, and frequent, comparability that is been made has been to Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets.

Zubimendi was beforehand closely linked to changing into Busquets’ successor at Barca, however they’re in monetary damage in order that they clearly could not afford to make a transfer occur.

In Liverpool phrases, there’s additionally a little bit of Xabi Alonso about his sport. Having labored below Alonso throughout his time in Actual Sociedad’s B workforce, it is clear that he is learnt fairly a bit from the legendary midfielder.

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