Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

After all, in the last two summers alone, the Reds have agreed high-profile deals only to miss out on their desired target.

Liverpool agreed a club-record £111m deal with Brighton & Hove Albion for Moises Caicedo in the summer of 2023 as he initially appeared open to the move to Merseyside.

However, he did not turn up for a medical and it became clear he instead had his heart set on joining Chelsea.



READ MORE:Rayan Cherki drops transfer hint after Liverpool meeting - 'I've been spat on a lot internally'READ MORE:Luis Diaz makes major Liverpool transfer admission after approach rejected - 'We're talking to clubs'

Meanwhile, the Reds were close to signing Martin Zubimendi last summer after agreeing to pay his £51.7m release clause.

Zubimendi's U-turn ultimately proved to be a blessing in disguise.

Article continues below

But while Liverpool might no longer be in the market for Zubimendi, in recent months it had appeared that he would make a belated move to the Premier League.

Arsenal have reportedly agreed to pay the Spaniard’s release clause, with the Gunners working on a deal to sign the midfielder for a number of months.

However, could Zubimendi leave a Premier League outfit disappointed for the second summer running?

Earlier this week he cooled talk of joining Arsenal, insisting he does not know how the summer will end.

"Of course there are options," Zubimendi told Radio Nacional from the Spain national team's camp when asked if he might end up staying at Real Sociedad.

“But it's true that it looks like it's going to be a different, long summer, and I don't know how it's going to end.

"Right now, thinking about it isn't my priority.

But he has sidestepped talk of reuniting with his compatriot at the Bernabeu.

"I've always said that he was my idol and that for me it was a stroke of luck that he was able to coach me in the reserve team in a very important year," Zubimendi said.

"[But] I don't like to talk about those hypotheses, I like to talk about the present.

We don't see it that way, so we have to wait and see."

Arsenal will hope they can succeed where Liverpool fell short, but the La Liga outfit evidently have not given up hope of retaining the midfielder’s services once again.

As the Reds continue to negotiate with Leverkusen for Wirtz, they will perhaps be grateful they are at least not again involved in a Zubimendi transfer saga.

That ship has long since sailed, with Arsenal's ongoing frustrations thankfully only a reminder of the rollercoaster Liverpool previously had to endure before turning their attention elsewhere.

While Gravenberch emerged as an internal solution at Anfield, only time will tell if the Gunners are forced to return to the drawing board themselves.

Jorginho will leave the club at the end of his contract this summer, while Thomas Partey's future remains uncertain ahead of his own deal expiring as negotiations continue.

Consequently, Mikel Arteta will need to strengthen his midfield regardless.

Article continues below

Zubimendi might not have weakened Liverpool's Premier League title challenge this season, but Arsenal's own headache is ongoing as the Spaniard continues to weigh up his future.

While impatient Reds supporters might have itchy feet regarding negotiations for Wirtz, after being burned by Zubimendi last year, they will be forgiven for thinking 'rather you than us' as their title-rivals wait for a conclusion to their own transfer pursuit.


For more news relating to Arsenal, visit our sister site AFC Latest Live.