Liverpool find themselves in a strange position as Real Sociedad have started playing hardball with Martin Zubimendi.
The Reds needed to pay a fee of £51 million release clause to secure the signing of the 25-year-old midfielder, but it doesn’t look that simple.
Zubimendi was mulling over what to do next with his future all these days. It is hard for him to leave his boyhood club, but at the same time, he (and his agent) must have understood that the opportunity to play for Liverpool does not come every time.
Liverpool want to sign a new No. 6 this summer and they have earmarked the Spanish midfielder as a perfect fit for the role.
According to the latest report from The Times, Sociedad have told Zubimendi he must trigger his own £51 million release clause from his boyhood club.
It means the midfielder needs to pay the clause by himself at the La Liga offices in Madrid.
They have applied the tactics to put an increased pressure on Zubimendi. They are now playing hardball with the Spain midfielder who is now under stress.
Liverpool have not given him any ultimatum, but there is an acceptance that the player cannot take an indefinite time to mull over his future.
Sociedad sold defender Robin Le Normand to Atletico Madrid this week, and midfielder Mikel Merino is a target for Arsenal. Therefore, the prospect of losing good-quality players has promoted the club to take a hard stance.
It is highly possible that Liverpool will now be forced to look for options elsewhere. Zubimendi has a buy-cut clause in his contract, which means he is the only one who can buy himself out of the contract. It’s a buyout clause, not a release clause, which can be triggered by another club.
Thus, Zubimendi will have to pay the money himself, and Liverpool will pay him later if he wants to secure the move.
