Five Liverpool transfer alternatives to Martin Zubimendi under €60 million

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Wharton included 

Liverpool’s transfer plans were rocked by the news that Martín Zubimendi had decided to stay at Real Sociedad. The Spanish international was Arne Slot’s main target as his first signing with Liverpool the only Premier League club yet to add a new signing this summer. Slot had identified the No.6 role as a priority position to upgrade and Liverpool were poised to pay Zubimendi’s €60 million release clause. 

But the 25-year-old has committed his future to his boyhood club and will be remaining in San Sebastian. Despite reports that Liverpool will abandon their midfield search, Richard Hughes will be under pressure from supporters to strengthen that area following his appointment as sporting director this summer. Alexis Mac Allister can perform that role but he’s better when deployed in a more advanced position while Slot has experimented with Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai at No.6 in pre-season. Wataru Endo is a natural defensive midfielder but he’s struggled in pre-season and is ill-suited to Slot’s possession based philosophy. Therefore, Transfermarkt has analysed five potential midfield targets for Liverpool with market values under the €60m release clause figure for Zubimendi. 

Exequiel Palacios was a legitimate target for Liverpool across previous windows but he penned a new contract with Bayer Leverkusen last summer until 2028. Palacios will be difficult to extract from Leverkusen given his importance to Xabi Alonso’s men and he played 24 times as they went unbeaten in the Bundesliga last season. Palacios is a tenacious midfielder who can thwart opposition attacks and he already possesses a good relationship with Mac Allister from the Argentina set-up.

Éderson showcased why he’s one of the best midfielders in Serie A with an outstanding display as Atalanta beat Leverkusen in the Europa League final. The Brazilian was subsequently linked with Liverpool and he’d represent the perfect option to compliment their current midfield options. Éderson possesses an incredible engine and he’s a relentless destroyer but he can also navigate out of pressure.

Links to Morten Hjulmand ramped up when Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim was viewed as the preferred target to replace Jurgen Klopp. Hjulmand led Sporting CP to their second title in four years last season as they finished 10 points ahead of rivals Porto. Hjulmand is a well-rounded defensive midfield who combines defensive nous with a good range of passing. The 25-year-old impressed for Denmark at Euro 2024 but was suspended as they were knocked out by Germany. Hjulmand would be difficult to prise from Lisbon as he’s contracted until 2028 and would be an expensive option. 

Another midfielder playing in Portugal that Liverpool have been linked to is Alan Varela. The Porto star is the archetypal defensive midfielder who is excellent at breaking up attacks and he uses the ball intelligently. It would take in excess of Varela’s €35m valuation to sign him but he would provide an upgrade on Endo and would allow Mac Allister and Szoboszlai to flourish higher up the pitch. 

Adam Wharton enjoyed a remarkable rise during the 2023/24 season from playing in the Championship with Blackburn Rovers to getting called up to the England squad for Euro 2024. Wharton wasn’t fazed by stepping up to the Premier League in January with Crystal Palace as he showcased his quality. The 20-year-old is so composed in possession, press-resistant and his passing through the lines stands out. Wharton could star for Liverpool at the base of midfield for the next decade but it’s incredibly unlikely that Palace will sanction a sale this summer and he would cost a small fortune.