'Liverpool felt that Zubimendi had the perfect profile in terms of what Slot is looking for in a No 6 and they didn’t pursue an alternative in August because they felt no one else could offer the same skill set.
'Their admiration for the Spain international remains strong.
'The Anfield hierarchy believed he came under pressure from Real Sociedad to stay put at his boyhood club when he U-turned, having initially indicated that he was keen on completing the switch to Merseyside.
'Real Sociedad and the player dispute that version of events.'