Liverpool manager Arne Slot is ready to move on from his expected Martin Zubimendi transfer miss by targeting a deal for Frenkie De Jong instead, with the bargain fee the Reds can land the Barcelona star for emerging and with a German star also their sights.
Slot has made a sizeable impression at Anfield since succeeding Jurgen Klopp as manager and currently boasts an incredible 77.78% win record, with victories in 28 of his 36 matches in charge. Another win on Thursday night could see Liverpool reach the Carabao Cup final and potentially push the Dutchman one match away from his first piece of silverware, though they will have to overcome a 1-0 deficit against Tottenham at Anfield.
With the Reds also flying high in the Premier League and Champions League, the Reds are preparing for what they hope could prove one of the most successful campaigns in their history – a fact made all the more remarkable by the fact that Slot has only added one name – Federico Chiesa – to the squad he inherited last summer.
One man who did slip the net was Zubimendi, who had agreed a move to Anfield before pulling the plug at the last minute. However, a summer move to the Premier League is on the cards with a move to Arsenal now ‘practically done’ instead.
That news will have disappointed Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes who put a lot of work into bringing the Real Sociedad star to Merseyside but have now seemingly reached an acceptance that Zubimendi will not be moving to Anfield.
But as one door closes, another one opens and now Caught Offside claims the Reds are ready to greenlight a move to sign an alternative in the form of Barcelona star De Jong.
The Netherlands midfielder has been with Barcelona since a 2019 move from Ajax and he has made 234 appearances over his six and a half full seasons at the club.
