Sports Update
Martin Zubimendi is informed he must ‘trigger his own release clause’ to secure Liverpool transfer.
Martin Zubimendi has been warned he must ‘trigger his own £51 million release clause’ if he wants to join Liverpool this summer, as Real Sociedad put more pressure on their midfielder.
Arne Slot has identified Zubimendi as the ideal addition to Liverpool, who are yet to complete a signing this summer.
Zubimendi has been strongly connected with a move to the Premier League in recent months, and he reportedly reached a ‘agreement’ with one of Liverpool’s rivals earlier this year, but the deal fell through.
Zubimendi, who has a release clause in his contract worth roughly £51 million, has been identified as an upgrade over Wataru Endo, who might depart to join Ligue Un team Marseille as part of a ‘triple transfer move’.
Over the weekend, it was believed that Liverpool wanted Zubimendi to decide by Sunday night, but the outstanding midfielder is yet to make a decision on a prospective move to Anfield.
A new report on Monday said that ‘Liverpool have set Wednesday as the deadline for Zubimendi to reveal his decision’, with their ‘two problems’ being ‘how to pay his clause’ and gaining a positive decision from the player.
Liverpool ‘will pay his clause one way or another’, but they ‘would prefer to bargain’.
It is also stated that Liverpool ‘considers Zubimendi gave them his word’, while his representatives are ‘in support of him not missing out’ on this opportunity.
While technical director Richard Hughes believes he has Zubimendi’s approval, the 25-year-old is anxious about ‘the impact his decision could cause at Real Sociedad considering that he declared he was going to stay weeks ago, before learning of Liverpool’s interest.’