Liverpool are ready to rival Arsenal in the race to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi this summer.
Arsenal have a long-standing interest in 25-year-old and remain interested in signing an additional midfielder in the summer, though the Gunners now face competition from a Premier League rival.
Liverpool want to sign a midfield player to sit at the base of the midfield and Football Transfers claim the Reds are willing to meet Zubimendi’s €60m (£51m) release clause at the end of the campaign.
Zubimendi has turned down previous interest from abroad as he focuses on a successful season at Sociedad, who are pushing for Champions League qualification once again this season and will face Paris Saint-Germain in the competition’s Round of 16 next week.
Barcelona also like Zubimendi, though look unable to find the funds required to sign the Spanish star this summer without substantial sales.
Liverpool’s interest comes amid Thiago Alcantara’s potential exit at the end of the season. The 32-year-old is out of contract in the summer and is facing another spell on the sidelines, having been injured during a five-minute cameo against Arsenal last weekend. The Spaniard’s substitute appearance at the Emirates was his first in a Liverpool shirt for 10 months.
