Arsenal transfer could hold the KEY to shock Liverpool Martin Zubimendi transfer TWIST | OneFootball

Real Sociedad's defeat in their opening fixture of the 2024/25 La Liga campaign may have provided an answer for the future of Martin Zubimendi.

A week on from the Spain midfielder informing Richard Hughes and co of his decision to snub Liverpool's advances and instead stay put in San Sebastian, Sociedad kicked off their La Liga campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Rayo Vallecano. It was an evening which sparked several talking points - not all of them on the pitch.

Zubimendi came off the bench to claw back a consolation goal for Sociedad in the dying embers of their season opener with the midfielder expected to commit his future to the club imminently.

The Euro 2024 winner has been Arne Slot's priority transfer target this summer but the Liverpool boss confirmed ahead of his side's trip to Ipswich last weekend that the midfielder had chosen to turn down an offer to move to Anfield.

READ MORE: Liverpool LATEST transfer news as Gundogan now AVAILABLE

Real boss hints Martin Zubimendi could STILL leave

The 25-year-old had to settle for a place on the Real Sociedad bench on Sunday night and that started to raise some eyebrows on Merseyside as Reds fans looked on with interest.

Then Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil seemingly made a huge admission that a move to Liverpool is yet to be completely off the table.

He explained: "He has rejected an offer. There is no doubt that Liverpool are great and the fact that he has said no, putting in what they put in, is a reason to be proud.

"It means that things are being done well at the club and even if such powerful clubs come, Martin says no, I'm happy, but there's still time until the 30th. Now it was Liverpool, but tomorrow it could be another great team, because the players have a level," Alguacil added.

Real Sociedad v Rayo Vallecano - LaLiga EA Sports Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad looks on during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Sociedad and Rayo Vallecano at Reale Arena on January 27, 2024, in San Sebastian, Spain. San Sebastian Reale Arena Basque Country Spain RL_RSOvRAY_055 Copyright: xRicardoxLarreinax

Mikel Merino factor adds further intrigue

Another takeaway from Sunday night's La Liga encounter was that Zubimendi's fellow Spanish midfelder Mikel Merino was not included in Sociedad's squad, with a transfer to Arsenal expected to be completed in the coming days.

The 28 year-old is expected to move to Mikel Arteta's side for a price in the region of £30 million with the midfielder having less than a year left on his current contract

Merino's departure could make a move away from Sociedad that little more unlikely for Zubimendi, with Sociedad's two midfield stars leaving in the same window being a far from ideal situation for the Spanish club, particularly with highly-rated Robin Le Normand also leaving the club this summer too.

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