EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool ready to sign midfielder BETTER than Martin Zubimendi

Anfield Watch understands Liverpool have set their sights on a new Spanish midfielder.

Last summer, the club pursued a move for Martin Zubimendi which ultimately ended in failure with the Euro 2024 winner option to stay at Real Sociedad.

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Fast forward almost 12 months, Liverpool's situation has markedly improved in the holding midfield department thanks to the emergence of Ryan Gravenberch.

However, Anfield Watch understands the club's official are still keen to add a midfield destroyer to Arne Slot's ranks.

It's a role Liverpool's recruitment team have been trying to fill for some time. Previously, the club had targeted Aurelien Tchuameni, who ended up at Real Madrid and infamously also tried to sign Moises Caicedo who joined Chelsea for a record-breaking move instead.

The club's quest will continue this summer with Liverpool identifying a ball-winner who has better metrics than Zubimendi and even Gravenberch this season.

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Anfield Watch can exclusively reveal that at the top of the list of holding midfielder targets for Liverpool this summer is Mikel Jauregizar.

The club's scouts have been really impressed by his performances this season and see him as the ideal candidate to bring to Anfield in order to become the disruptor in Slot's midfield.

Jauregizar is only 21-years-old and has become a pivotal player for Athletic Bilbao this season.

The Spanish U21 international has made 44 appearances at club level, and played a key role in his side reaching the semi-final of he Europa League.

It's believed he's ready to make the next step in his career and he's seen as a profile who would not only be able to bring much needed ball-winning qualities to Slot's side but also contribute going forward - something Wataru Endo doesn't necessarily provide.

Jauregizar is technically gifted and he's capable of line-breaking passes and creating chances for his teammates from a deep lying position.

As he showed at Old Trafford in the Europa League, he can also score goals from long-distance - sending a Steven Gerrard esque pile driver into the top corner of the net.

It's the defensive side of the game that stands out about Jauregizar the most though. He averages more tackles and interceptions (4.68 per 90) than Gravenberch (3.75 per 90) and Zubimendi (3.65 per 90) while also making more recoveries (5.92 per 90) as per FBref.

His physical attributes, ability to cover a lot of distances combined with his technical qualities have very much put him as Liverpool's top midfield target for the summer.

The club are ready to make a move for him but a lot will depend on potential outgoings and incomings as well.

At this moment in time, Liverpool are yet to make important decisions on the futures of the likes of Ibrahima Konate and Luis Diaz, which will determine just how much of a budget Hughes will have left to spend on a midfielder.

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Nonetheless, Jauregizar is a name to keep an eye on with the club's scouts regarding him as a special midfielder.