Liverpool Urged to Go All-In for Zubimendi as Title Race Heats Up
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has issued a rallying cry to the Reds, urging them to seize their current position of strength in the Premier League by targeting Martin Zubimendi in the January transfer window. With Liverpool sitting at the top of the table, five points clear of Manchester City and nine ahead of Arsenal, Carragher believes now is the perfect time to bolster the squad and widen the gap on their rivals.
“This Chance May Never Come Again,” Warns Carragher
Speaking on Stick to Football, Carragher emphasized the unique opportunity Liverpool has this season:
“If I was Liverpool, I would be doing that [strengthening in January]. If you’re Arne Slot, and let’s say an average Premier League manager is at a top club for two or three years trying to win the league, this might never come around again.”
He continued, pointing to the challenges faced by rivals like Mikel Arteta at Arsenal:
“Arteta has been there for four or five years trying to build something. Liverpool are five points clear of City and nine points clear of Arsenal—it’s a long way to go, but this is a chance to strike. Liverpool don’t do silly things in the transfer market, but if there’s something there right now, they have to act.”
Zubimendi: The Missing Piece?
Carragher singled out Martin Zubimendi, the Real Sociedad midfielder, as the ideal target for Liverpool’s January shopping:
“Zubimendi is the player Slot wanted. They ended up putting [Ryan] Gravenberch there, who has been fantastic, but if Zubimendi is the one, go and get him. You might never be in this position again. City are City—they could be five points ahead of you by Christmas. Just make it count.”
Zubimendi was heavily linked with Liverpool in the summer but chose to stay at Real Sociedad. Now, both City and Arsenal are reportedly circling the €60m-rated midfielder as they look to address their own midfield gaps. City, in particular, view Zubimendi as a potential solution to their issues following Rodri’s season-ending injury.
Transfer Window Developments for Liverpool
While Zubimendi remains the primary focus, Liverpool are also juggling other transfer considerations. Reports suggest:
- Trent Alexander-Arnold has been in contact with Real Madrid, fueling speculation about his future at Anfield.
- Fulham’s Antonee Robinson has been linked with Liverpool, but a January move seems unlikely at this stage.
- The Reds are also eyeing Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Hugo Larsson, with a price tag of £70m, as well as Andrija Maksimovic of Red Star Belgrade.
Zubimendi’s 2024/25 Season at a Glance
- Appearances: 16
- Goals: 1
- Assists: 1
- Pass completion: 86.96%
- Tackles: 39
- Interceptions: 17
- Successful dribbles: 10
With Liverpool’s rivals lurking and the stakes higher than ever, Carragher’s plea serves as a call to action: strengthen now or risk losing the edge in this tightly contested title race.
