via liverpool.com
Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi now regrets his decision to reject a summer transfer to Liverpool and is pushing for a January move, according to reports in Spain.
Liverpool had a quiet transfer window compared to some of its Premier League rivals, bringing in just two new players.
Italian winger Federico Chiesa was signed from Juventus in a deal worth $13 million, and $33 million was spent on Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili,
The Reds were prepared to spend money and pursued the signing of Zubimendi all summer, with new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot keen to strengthen the base of his midfield
Negotiations took place for several weeks, but the 25-year-old decided that he wanted to remain with his boyhood club that he joined at the age of 12.
Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo has claimed that Zubimendi is now keen to revive the deal and is hoping that Liverpool attempts to sign him again during the January transfer window.
It would be a major U-turn from the midfielder, who declared his love for Sociedad after formally rejecting Liverpool.
Zubimendi enjoyed a dream summer after winning Euro 2024 with Spain, and it appeared that his performances had earned him a Premier League move.
Sociedad had already been raided by Arsenal who signed Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino for $37.5 million, and demanded that Liverpool pay Zubimendi's $66.5 million release clause.
Liverpool isn't a club that pays over the odds and continued negotiating with Sociedad until Zubimendi made it clear he wanted to remain in Spain
Shortly after the transfer saga was over, Zubimendi said: "Real Sociedad for me is my life. I think I have spent half my life there. A lot of what I am is part of La Real, it is my life."
Slot wasn't impacted by his first failed transfer as Liverpool head coach, and said ahead of the Reds' Premier League opener: "
Slot
‘It’s not always true that if you bring in new players the team becomes stronger. I said many times I think our squad is strong and it’s not easy to find players who can help us or can even strengthen the squad.
“Zubimendi was one of them, to be fair, but he decided not to come. He (Richard Hughes, Liverpool sporting director) tried everything to bring him in, but if a player doesn’t want to come, it’s obvious he is not coming."
Sociedad has made a poor start to the season after winning just one of its first six games and is currently 16th in La Liga.
The Spanish team will compete in the Europa League this season, the second-tier of elite European competition.
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