Liverpool reportedly plan to go head-to-head with Arsenal for the signature of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi this summer.
The 25-year-old has excelled in a holding role for the La Liga giants this season and has also added more of a goal threat to his game, notching four strikes of his own and one assist from 22 La Liga matches.
Zubimendi also played every minute of Real Sociedad's unbeaten Champions League group-stage campaign, which saw Imanol Alguacil's side set up a last-16 clash with Paris Saint-Germain, and Sociedad are also challenging for Copa del Rey glory this term, drawing 0-0 with Mallorca in Tuesday's semi-final first leg.
Sociedad have Zubimendi under contract for another three-and-a-half years, but the Spain international - who was a part of La Roja's 2022-23 Nations League-winning squad - has inevitably been linked with a move to the Premier League.
Arsenal have long been considered the favourites for Zubimendi and were said to have been closing in on the midfielder's signing in January, although such reports turned out to be wide of the mark.
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Nevertheless, the Gunners are said to be firm admirers of the Sociedad youth product, although Barcelona - still searching for a long-term successor to Sergio Busquets - have supposedly been running the rule over him too.
Now, FootballTransfers claims that Liverpool are also ready to throw their hat into the ring, and the Reds have indicated that they are willing to trigger the €60m (£51.3m) release clause in his contract.
Liverpool's efforts to win the race for Zubimendi could receive a huge boost if Xabi Alonso takes over as manager in place of Jurgen Klopp, as the Bayer Leverkusen boss worked with his compatriot while coaching with Sociedad.
However, the report adds that Arsenal are still expected to come forward with their own offer for Zubimendi, who boasts a total of eight goals and seven assists from 176 matches in all competitions for Sociedad.
After being forced to concede defeat to Real Madrid in the race for Jude Bellingham, Liverpool's summer midfield overhaul saw four new faces in Wataru Endo, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai arrive at Anfield.
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Mac Allister and Endo have often shared the number six position this season, although the latter - who has been away with Japan at the Asian Cup for the past few weeks - is a more natural fit in that area and has slowly proven his worth to Klopp.
Endo is contracted to Liverpool until 2027, but he turned 31 on Friday and is not seen as a long-term investment, while Mac Allister is expected to operate in a more forward-thinking role if a new defensive-minded player is signed in the near future.
In addition, the injury-riddled Thiago Alcantara is out of contract in the summer, and a separate report from Football Insider claims that Liverpool do not expect the 32-year-old to stick around for any longer.
Thiago made his first appearance in almost 10 months against Arsenal last weekend, having missed the first half of the season with a hip injury, but the Spaniard allegedly picked up a new muscular problem at the Emirates, despite only being on the field for a matter of moments.
It is unclear how long Thiago's latest concern will sideline him for, but he is not expected to be available for Saturday's clash with Burnley at Anfield, although Endo is set to return to the matchday squad after Japan's exit from the Asian Cup.
Ben Knapton
