Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has opened up on his club’s failure to snap up top midfield target and Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi.
The Reds, who are yet to rope in a new player in the ongoing summer transfer window, were heavily linked with Zubimendi earlier this month. However, despite the Reds reportedly making progress in securing a potential deal, the midfielder decided to remain at his boyhood team.
Ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League opening contest at Ipswich Town on Saturday (August 17), Slot was asked to share his thoughts on the failed move. The former Feyenoord boss replied (h/t Liverpool Echo):
“I said many times already our squad is really strong so it is not easy to find players to strengthen. Zubimendi was one but he chose not to come here, so we go forward with the one we have. We’re in a good place and [sporting director] Richard [Hughes] is trying to improve the squad in the background. Zubimendi didn’t want to come and Richard tried everything.”Sharing further thoughts on his team’s summer activity, Slot added:
“We kept the same team but lost Thiago [Alcantara], Joel [Matip] and Adrian… and you always talk about transfers but we have a positive team already.”
The Reds, who will visit Portman Road to face Kieran McKenna’s outfit this Saturday, reportedly believe they have defensive midfield options in their squad. They are of the opinion that Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones, and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all viable number six options.
Zubimendi, on the other hand, is expected to start for Real Sociedad in their La Liga opener against Rayo Vallecano this Sunday (August 18). He has contributed eight goals and seven assists in 188 games for them.
Arne Slot outlines plan for Liverpool striker
During a recent press conference, Arne Slot was asked to shed light on his plan to improve Darwi Nunez’s game. The 45-year-old responded:
“[The plan is to] bring him as much as we can into scoring positions. Everyone benefits from the team performance. If everyone can bring the attackers into dangerous positions then these players will score goals. We have even scored goals out of smaller chances, so it is up to us to bring Darwin or Diogo [Jota] into promising positions.”
Nunez, 25, has found the back of the opposition net 33 times and laid out 17 assists in 96 outings across all competitions for Liverpool so far.
