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Opinion
Liverpool have already signed a Martin Zubimendi alternative and he cost just £224,000
Liverpool saw a summer transfer target move closer to joining a Premier League rival on Tuesday.
TBR Football understand Arsenal are confident of signing Martin Zubimendi꧃ from Real Sociedad – despite interest from Liverpool and Real Madrid – with the Gunners even willing to trigger the Spaniard’s £50.5m release clause.
Back in the summer, there was a high profile transfer saga involving the Real Sociedad No.4 and Liverpool✨ – after he opted to reject a move to Anfield in favour of remaining in his hometown of San Sebastien.
Liverpool are not expected to challenge Arsenal for Martin Zubimendi – and that may well be because Arne Slot already has a very similar No.6 right under his nose in Stefan Bajcetic.
Stefan Bajcetic can be a Martin Zubimendi alternative for Liverpool
𝐆Liverpool fans must not forget about the Spain U21 international.
🅰Bajcetic – who Liverpool signed from Celta Vigo for just back in December 2020 – was immense for Jurgen Klopp in that No.6 role at the base of midfield before suffering an adductor injury in March 2023.
🌃The way in which the 20-year-old continuously received the ball under pressure, only to spin away and ignite an attack for the Reds, was highly impressive for a player so young.
Just take a look at this risky pass from Virgil van Dijk away at Newcastle back in February 2023, which Bajcetic – who has been compared to Xaviꦗ – managed to turn into a goal thanks to one smart drop of the shoulder and a clean take on his back foot.
ꦜThe statistics make for interesting reading as well.
♊WhoScored shows that Bajcetic has averaged key passes per game this season in the UEFA Champions League during his loan spell at RB Salzburg – also registering a pass success rate of 83.9% for the Austrian giants.
༺In regards to Zubimendi, the Spain international is very close to those numbers, averaging key passes every 90 minutes with a pass success rate of 84.9% for Real Sociedad.
Arne Slot should trust Stefan Bajcetic at Liverpool
🦄Ryan Gravenberch has stepped up since Zubimendi rejected Liverpool – lessening the need for a new midfielder – although another option in that area may soon be required.
🥃Jamie Carragher thinks Slot could sell Wataru Endoಞ – and if that does turn out to be the case, Liverpool should avoid signing a new midfielder and place their trust in Bajcetic, a talent who remains the youngest player to start a UEFA Champions League knockout game for the Reds, aged 18 years and 122 days.
