Liverpool boss Slot claims Zubimendi ‘chosen not to come’.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said on Friday that key transfer target Martin Zubimendi has “decided not to come” to Anfield from Real Sociedad.

The Euro 2024 champion had been deemed as the finest candidate to fill a defensive midfield role for Liverpool, in what would have been the club’s first major signing since Slot succeeded Jurgen Klopp as manager.

“I’ve said many times that our squad is very strong, and it’s not easy to find players who can help or improve the squad,” Dutchman Slot told reporters before of his team’s Premier League start against Ipswich on Saturday.

“Zubimendi was one of them, to be fair, but he chose not to attend. We move forward with the ones we have. (Wataru) Endo performed well in the preseason.

“We are in a good spot. Richard (Hughes, Liverpool’s sporting director) is working to bolster the squad. Zubimendi decided not to come, and we made every attempt. If a player decides not to arrive, it’s clear he’s not coming.”

Slot believes Liverpool could still fight for the title after finishing third last season, despite a paucity of new signings at Anfield.

“That argument I don’t understand — if you don’t strengthen the team you become weaker,” Slot explained.

“That’s a little strange because generally you’d either stay the same — and I honestly believe that (on) the training ground, you can help players and teams grow, and that’s what occurred here in recent years, that the training ground really helped the squad progress…

“If you keep bringing players in sometimes the energy in the group goes down as well.”