Real Sociedad have reportedly told Martin Zubimendi that he must trigger his own release clause if he is to leave his boyhood club this summer.
Liverpool have identified the midfielder as their top target in the No. 6 role as Arne Slot plots eyes his first signing in the Anfield dugout. However, negotiations are not going smoothly at this stage.
According to The Times, Sociedad are desperate to retain the services of their academy product and have told Zubimendi of their strict demands for a deal to go ahead.
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They have informed the 25-year-old that he must trigger his own release clause, worth £51million, if he is to leave the club. The process would involve Zubimendi personally travelling to the La Liga offices in Madrid to inform them of his decision.
Zubimendi is mulling over where his future lies, having snubbed transfer approaches in years gone by – notably from Arsenal – in favour of remaining at the club he has played for since he was 12.
Sociedad are therefore cracking up the pressure on their No. 4 in the hope of persuading him to remain at the club.
The Spanish side hope that the prospect of having to force himself out of his beloved club will see Zubimendi reject the chance to join Liverpool and instead put pen to paper on a new deal at the Reale Arena.
Sociedad have already sold Robin Le Normand to Atletico Madrid this week and Arsenal are pushing to strike a deal for Mikel Merino, and thus they are reluctant to lose three of their most important players just weeks before the transfer window closes.
Liverpool have not provided Zubimendi with a final date that he must inform them of his transfer decision but they have made it clear to the player and his entourage that the current state of affairs cannot continue and a conclusion to the negotiations is needed sooner rather than later.
The Reds were previously convinced that Zubimendi felt that heading to Anfield was the best next step in his career, though it remains to be seen whether Real Sociedad’s tactics bear fruit and prompt the playmaker to reconsider his options and continue to build up his legacy in the La Liga instead.
