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

Jamie Carragher is convinced that Mikel Arteta snatched Martin Zubimendi right from under Liverpool's noses.

He believes Arteta may have quietly turned the midfielder's head, planting the idea of a future move to the Emirates long before it became official.

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



I think Arteta got into him."

Article continues belowMartin Zubimendi nearly joined Liverpool in 2024(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arteta was born in the city of San Sebastian, the home of Real Sociedad, and even had a brief spell with the club as a player - joining from Rangers in 2004 before leaving for Everton just six months later.

Fast forward to late 2024, and Arteta was quietly working behind the scenes with his former club to land Zubimendi in a £55m deal.

The move was officially announced in July.

Arne Slot's side stormed to the Premier League title, securing Liverpool's 20th league crown in style and finishing 10 points clear of runners-up Arsenal.

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This season, Arteta and Zubimendi will be aiming to close that gap - but that task has become even tougher.

Liverpool have gone on a transfer spree worth nearly £300m, bringing in stars such as Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike - and with further moves for Marc Guehi, young Italian centre-back Giovanni Leoni and Alexander Isak still in the works, the champions look determined to stay on top.

Having said that, Liverpool's season got off to an inauspicious start in the Community Shield on Sunday.
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