When Richard Hughes flew again from San Sebastian after what have been optimistic conversations with Martin Zubimendi and consultant Inaki Ibanez, it should have felt like a coup.
Zubimendi had already turned down Arsenal and Bayern Munich in favour of staying with Actual Sociedad, however the likelihood to affix Liverpool was one other matter.
Besides an emotional pitch from the membership he has referred to as house because the 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 broadly reported that Zubimendi was the Reds’ precedence goal, and extra frustratingly for supporters additionally their sole goal for the position this summer time.
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 an alternative, Ryan Gravenberch is poised to go 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, after all, not Arne Slot‘s favoured choice, 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, together 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 could 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 may be forgiven for a well-known feeling round this improvement, with Liverpool once more compelled 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 time following the departure of Jurgen Klopp, Michael Edwards and Julian Ward could 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 employees 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 considerations that “the squad was veering away from the ‘proper soccer age’.”
Fabinho produced considered one of his finest 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 time.
Liverpool had tried to appropriate 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 time – 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 high targets for essentially the most urgent situation of their squad.
After a rerun this summer time with Zubimendi, the membership seem wanting to keep away from any short-term fixes available in the market that would lead them into the place they discover themselves with Endo a yr on from his £16 million swap from Stuttgart.
Nonetheless, 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 recreation.
Are there not different No. 6s?
A convincing case may be made for this all-or-nothing strategy within the transformative signings of Alisson and Virgil van Dijk, however there are lots of others that show the advantage 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 honest to say that the marketplace for elite-level No. 6s is sparse, however the membership’s knowledge group will little doubt concentrate on 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 doubtless seem on the record of defensive midfielders who couldn’t solely elevate Slot’s squad but in addition go well with his system – with each virtually actually obtainable for the precise value.
If Liverpool’s new-look hierarchy are resolved that it’s Zubimendi or nobody this summer time, they will at the least be acknowledged for sticking to their beliefs.
However after three consecutive summers of failing to deal with the largest situation within the squad, it’s only proper to ask: at what value?
Klopp’s Liverpool have 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 did not 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 power with Rodri on the base of their midfield.
Issues might nonetheless change, notably as it’s well-known that Liverpool desire 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 danger standing nonetheless whereas their rivals transfer ahead with out them, leaving Slot with out the instruments he arguably requires to kill them with passes.
