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In the summer of 2024, Liverpool’s pursuit of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi became one of the most protracted and emotionally charged transfer sagas of the year.

The Reds, under new manager Arne Slot, identified the Spanish international as their top target to reinforce their midfield, but despite triggering his €60 million (£51 million) release clause, Zubimendi ultimately chose to remain loyal to his boyhood club

Liverpool interest in Zubimendi was no secret.

The club’s recruitment team viewed the 25-year-old as the ideal successor to Fabinho, offering a blend of defensive discipline, technical proficiency, and tactical intelligence tailored to Slot’s system.

By early August 2024, negotiations had advanced to the point where Liverpool agreed to meet Zubimendi’s release clause, a figure embedded in his contract with Real Sociedad.

At the time, reports suggested the player had initially given verbal assurances to join the Merseyside club, with personal terms broadly agreed.

However, the transfer unraveled abruptly.

Zubimendi, who had just returned from helping Spain win Euro 2024, cited the offer’s timing and his emotional ties to Real Sociedad as decisive factors.

Arne Slot even explained why he wanted the Spaniard, saying on TNT Sports earlier this year:

“I prefer to get the ball behind those two [opposition forwards], that’s why the center-backs are so important.”

“I even think that the player that we wanted to bring in – I think it’s out in the open now – was also a player that’s comfortable on the ball and can bring the ball from the last line to our forwards.”

It’s clear Slot wanted an orchestrator from his midfield anchor, able to progress the ball to the strikers reliably.

And it seems the club have an alternative for the Real Sociedad stalwart.

James Pearce of the Athletic has asserted that Angelo Stiller is the preferred choice should the Reds decide to strengthen that position, but it’s not a priority this summer:

“Gravenberch’s impact in the deeper No 6 role means that signing another holding midfielder is no longer a priority,” he wrote.

When Liverpool failed in their pursuit of Martin Zubimendi last summer, they considered Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller as an alternative but opted to push on with what they had.”

Angelo Stiller.

As we can see from the German’s underlying figures, the midfielder excels at creating play from deep, and is a creative force for Stuttgart this season.

The 24-year-old has had an impressive campaign, chipping in with 4 goals and 9 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions.

Stiller has a €36m  release clause in his contract which comes into play in 2026.

His performances have also earned him a place in Germany’s national team where he has 3 caps.

Meanwhile, Pearce asserts that Stefan Bajcetic will get a chance to impress in pre-season, further easing the tension around the deep-lying midfield area:

“The plan is to assess young Spanish midfielder Stefan Bajcetic when he returns to Kirkby for pre-season