During the last transfer window, Martín Zubimendi turned down an offer from the Premier League, but he could still end up moving to England. However, it won’t be to Liverpool, the club that originally pursued him, but rather to their biggest rival of the last decade—Manchester City. Well-informed Spanish outlet Relevo reports that Manchester City is prepared to do everything in its power to bring the Spanish midfielder to the blue side of Manchester, possibly as early as January. The four-time English champions want to take advantage of the fact that Zubimendi has not yet signed a new contract with Real Sociedad, meaning he remains available for 60 million euros.A man with a blue and white heart speaks: ‘Sociedad is my life’City won’t have any issues paying that amount, especially given that, after Rodri’s injury, they are in a position where they can’t afford to worry about costs. Signing Zubimendi would, at least on paper, help the English club cover the absence of the 28-year-old Spaniard. While City has full confidence in the former Atlético Madrid midfielder, statistics show that their performance on the field isn’t quite the same when he’s absent. And with Rodri out for the rest of the season due to a torn knee ligament, Pep Guardiola would welcome a replacement. Mateo Kovačić has already cemented his place in City’s starting eleven, scoring two goals against Fulham over the weekend. However, his midfield partner has often changed, with Rico Lewis, Ilkay Gündogan, and Matheus Nunes sharing minutes since the start of the season. This is why City is considering strengthening their midfield in January, and Zubimendi, who successfully replaced an injured Rodri in the final of the European Championship, could be the perfect fit. Pep is looking for Rodri‘s replacement in ItalyIt remains to be seen, however, whether Zubimendi will accept City’s offer if it arrives. After all, he already turned down Liverpool’s offer this August. The Reds had informed Sociedad’s leadership that they were ready to activate his release clause, only for the 25-year-old Spaniard to inform them that he was staying in San Sebastián. And while Real Sociedad has struggled at the start of the season—two wins in 11 matches across all competitions—Zubimendi recently stated that he has no regrets about the decision he made in mid-August.”I don’t regret not joining Liverpool. I made the decision from the heart, I thought it was the best choice, and the results don’t influence my decision. My philosophy is to always make decisions from within, and to this day, I’ve always wanted to stay. It’s true that there was a lot of talk, and I went through some uncomfortable moments, but now, looking back, I think staying was the best thing for me. I see potential in Sociedad; you need to see us in training, and I’m excited for the good season ahead,” Zubimendi said in early October. We’ll see whether he finishes the season in San Sebastián.##NAJAVA_MECA_8396200##
