Liverpool and Manchester City are chasing Real Sociedad’s Martín Zubimendi, according to Monday’s edition of AS.
The newspaper covers the midfielder as an option for Real Madrid and also mentions both Liverpool and Manchester City’s interest.
Real Madrid have identified the 25-year-old as one of the targets to replace Toni Kroos, who retired in the summer.
Los Blancos haven’t contacted their La Liga counterparts as they want to look at options before making the final decision.
The Spain international has a €60n release clause and his age, asking price and profile fits into the requirements of the Champions League winners, who are looking to sign the best national team players.
Zubimendi is ‘greatly seduced’ by the Premier League and it’s one of the reasons why he didn’t entertain Barcelona in the summer. Liverpool came close to signing him, but La Real convinced him to stay, after losing both Robin Le Normand and Mikel Merino.
His agent, Iñaki Ibáñez, also represents Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso, and the manager said to be in contention to replace Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid next season. These factors make the Spaniard ‘more than desirable’ for Real Madrid and favour them to sign him.
The newspaper warns Real Madrid they will have to ‘fight’ with the Premier League sides, ‘mainly Liverpool and Manchester City’, who are reportedly keen on the Euro 2024 winner. They add Pep Guardiola sees Zubimendi as an ideal candidate to replace Rodri.
Manchester City and Liverpool could take advantage of Zubimendi’s claimed Premier League desire to beat Real Madrid for his signature.
