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Mikel Arteta may have cost Liverpool a major signing(Image: Getty Images)

Jamie Carragher thinks Mikel Arteta is the reason Martin Zubimendi didn't sign for Liverpool last year.

The Spanish midfielder, who sealed a move to Arsenal this summer, had been on the brink of signing for the Reds in 2024.

Liverpool had arranged a £51million deal with Real Sociedad and agreed personal terms with Zubimendi.



He believes Arteta subtly persuaded the player to wait for Arsenal, planting the seeds for a move to north London long before it was confirmed.

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"I'm convinced now that Arteta stole him from Liverpool," Carragher told the Stick to Football podcast.

I think Arteta got into him."

Article continues belowMartin Zubimendi nearly joined Liverpool in 2024, but ended up signing for Arsenal instead(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arteta was born in San Sebastian - home to Real Sociedad - and even played briefly for the club, joining from Rangers in 2004 before leaving for Everton just six months later.

Fast forward to late 2024, and he was reportedly working discreetly with his former side to secure Zubimendi for £55m.

The transfer became official in July, with the Spaniard now expected to feature alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in a potentially formidable Arsenal midfield.

Missing out on Zubimendi was a major disappointment in an otherwise subdued Liverpool summer transfer window 12 months ago.

Federico Chiesa was their only major signing, and the Italian forward found minutes hard to come by.

Arteta will be looking to overhaul Arne Slot's Reds this season and finally end Arsenal's long wait for a league title(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Still, it hardly derailed them - Arne Slot led Liverpool to a dominant Premier League triumph, finishing 10 points ahead of Arsenal to claim the club's 20th league title.

This year, Arteta and Zubimendi aim to close that gap, though Liverpool's heavy summer spending of nearly £300m - on Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike, and with deals for the likes of Marc Guehi, Giovanni Leoni, and Alexander Isak potentially to come - makes that challenge steeper.

That said, Liverpool's campaign began with a stumble in the Community Shield, losing to Crystal Palace on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
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