Arne Slot has confirmed that Martin Zubimendi snubbed a move to Liverpool as he defended the lack of transfer activity so far in his first summer at Anfield.
The Reds looked set to make Spain’s Euro 2024-winning midfielder their first signing of a quiet transfer window on Merseyside after appearing poised to trigger his release clause worth £51million.
However, Real Sociedad also made a convincing late play to keep Zubimendi at Anoeta and the player eventually decided to stay put in LaLiga.
It was a major blow for Liverpool, who instead now head into the start of the new Premier League season without making a single new signing so far to bolster their squad for a new era under Slot following the departure of predecessor Jurgen Klopp after nine years at the end of last term.
Asked about the failed pursuit of Zubimendi in a press conference held before his first competitive game in charge away at newly-promoted Ipswich on Saturday, Slot said: "I've said many times already that our squad is really strong and it's not so easy to find players who can help us or improve the squad.
"Zubimendi was one of them to be fair, but he decided not to come. We go forward with the ones we have. [Wataru] Endo did well in pre-season. We're in a good place.
“[Sporting director] Richard [Hughes] is trying to strengthen the squad. Zubimendi decided not to come, we did every effort. If a player decides not to come then it's obvious he's not coming.”
Liverpool’s puzzling lack of transfer business has already led to criticism by some fans of new sporting director Richard Hughes, though Slot insists his side can continue to improve with the players they already have available.
A shortage of new recruits did not seem to affect the Reds at all during pre-season, with Liverpool impressing strongly under their new boss in consecutive friendly victories over Real Betis, Arsenal, Manchester United and Sevilla.
"That argument I don't understand,” Slot said. “If you don't strengthen, you become weaker? We stay the same. I truly believe you can help on the training ground and improve.
“It has helped players to improve here. If others clubs strengthen they become better, but it's not always true that new players make you stronger. Every player in the team needs perspective on playing time.
“If you keep bringing in players, the energy goes down. Me and Richard are trying to strengthen, if we think we have found someone, we try to bring him. Unfortunately the one we found (Zubimendi) said no."
