Manchester City are reportedly trying to blow Liverpool away in a deal to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.
The Spanish international has been heavily linked with Premier League clubs over the past year. Arsenal were initially mooted as his most likely next destination until Liverpool moved to sign him in the summer. He was identified as new boss Arne Slot’s preferred target for the No.6 role and the Reds were expected to secure his signature, but this proposed transfer collapsed as Martin Zubimendi decided to stay with his boyhood club Real Sociedad.
Now, according to an exclusive report from Football Insider, Manchester City will look to sign Zubimendi when the transfer window reopens in January as they look to replace the injured Rodri.
The defensive midfielder has a £50million release clause in his contract, and eventually, the transfer will come down to the player himself whether or not he is willing to move to England. The 25-year-old may opt to wait until the summer before deciding on his future.
Martin Zubimendi to Manchester City—Right option for Pep Guardiola?
Manchester City have lost their way following a serious knee suffered by Rodri in October. Rodri has been ruled out for the rest of the campaign after rupturing his ACL, creating a big hole in City’s midfield ever since.
Pep Guardiola has tried to solve the problem by using Rico Lewis, Ilkay Gundogan and Mateo Kovacic in the No.6 role, but none of them have provided him with a solution. Several teams in recent weeks have overrun and outplayed the Sky Blues in the middle of the park, with Guardiola’s side managing only one win in their last eight games across all competitions.
Zubimendi has emerged as a target for Manchester City, as Guardiola looks to find a solution to fix his team’s midfield conundrum. Rated as one of the best central midfielders across the continent, Zubimendi has made over 200 senior appearances for Real Sociedad after rising through their youth ranks.
The Spaniard can operate as a lone No.6 or in a double pivot in the middle of the park in a possession-based system. Technically strong, he can dictate the tempo of the game sitting in front of the backline and carve open the opposition with his defence-splitting passes and vision. The San Sebastian-born talent, who won the Euro 2024, has the skill set closer to Rodri to potentially solve City’s midfield conundrum.
Guardiola can use his Spanish connections to lure Zubimendi to the Etihad Stadium. City should not have problems triggering the midfielder’s £50million release clause, provided he becomes ready to join them in 2025. If the Sky Blues can lure him away from Real Sociedad, Zubimendi can go a long way in solving the problems Guardiola has encountered in midfield since Rodri’s injury.
