Jamie Carragher urges Liverpool to secure January transfer move that would disrupt Man City

While Manchester City struggles for the form of the season in the Premier League, Liverpool finds themselves in that rare position at the top of the table. Former Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has now called upon his old club to pull out all the stops this month and make that key signing in the January transfer window which would not only strengthen Arne Slot’s squad but also disrupt their title rivals Manchester City.

Indeed, with City slipping up in recent weeks against Bournemouth and Brighton after a run of dominant form, Liverpool now find themselves five points clear of Pep Guardiola’s side. A big moment for Arne Slot’s team, and Carragher thinks something needs to be done.

Carragher’s Big Call: Zubimendi Could Be the Game-Changer

Pulling no punches as ever, Carragher wants the right thing done in January and the deal sealed with Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, who is also wanted by Manchester City. Former Liverpool center-back Carragher made one thing very clear during the latest edition of Stick to Football: it’s now or never for the Reds.

The fact is if I was Liverpool, I’d be doing that, getting that done,” said Carragher. He said Liverpool may never find themselves in that state of affairs in the Premier League, with City stumbling. “You might never be in this position. Go and do it,” as City is wounded.

The irony is that it couldn’t have come at a better time for Carragher’s plea for Liverpool to make a move. Five points behind and without the injured Rodri for months, City need him – the pursuit of Zubimendi just gets big for Guardiola’s side. Insistent Carragher, though, insists Liverpool beats them to it.

Zubimendi: From Youth Midfielder to Star

Only 25, Martin Zubimendi has grown as one of the bright midfield operators for Spain. With 204 appearances for Real Sociedad, this talented defensive midfielder has scored nine goals and nine assists across all competitions. He shows great capability in regulating the pace of the game and getting big interceptions into opposition attacks. So impressive that some big guns across Europe kept tabs on him.

While Liverpool’s interest in Zubimendi has been documented, it was City that seemed set to move for the Spaniard this summer. Zubimendi is said to have rejected an offer from Liverpool back in the summer transfer window. As a matter of fact, with Rodri out of action for the foreseeable future, City’s need for a top-tier defensive midfielder has grown exponentially.

Yet Carragher appears to feel the true piece to the jigsaw for Arne Slot lies in the form of Zubimendi. The Reds were said to be in for a similarly molded player this summer in the shape of Ryan Gravenberch, but while the Dutchman has had his moments of quality, he will have a quite different role to the Liverpool boss.

The Stakes: Consolidation of Teams, outsmarting City

The upcoming deal that could take Zubimendi to Liverpool could, therefore, not be about strengthening Liverpool’s midfield but more about giving them the edge needed over Manchester City in the title race of the Premier League this year. Through City’s recent stumbles and Liverpool’s current momentum, Arne Slot’s side has a rare opportunity to increase this bolster and take advantage of what amounts to a possible City crisis.

While he once rejected Liverpool, the thought of going to a team in the form they are showing must have been some sort of attraction. Signing him would also be a big psychological blow for City: strengthening of the Liverpool squad and weakening of Guardiola in that deep midfield position.

City do not have their main midfielder, Rodri, to fill the gap in midfield. He had been their key player for the last seasons, and once an injury occurs to him, all those weaknesses get out. As talented as backup options Kalvin Phillips and Mateo Kovačić are, neither has the same influence on the pitch that Rodri did; that forces Guardiola to find other options.

Come January, it’s going to be a fight to the finish between City and Liverpool, but this is one of those rare opportunities whereby Liverpool could get one over City in the transfer market and maybe change the course of the Premier League for years to come.

A Transfer Window to Remember?

With Zubimendi a key target for both clubs, the January transfer window promises to be a battle royale. For Liverpool, it may just prove an opportunity to further extend their lead over City at the exact point in time when Guardiola’s team goes into overdrive. For City, missing out on Zubimendi could, therefore, make their messy championship challenge even messier, but even more a sense of missed opportunity. It is about pouncing upon an opportunity that might never come again. Liverpool are in rare form – the team right at the heels of City, and the next few months might define the rest of the season.

The tussle for Zubimendi simply goes to show how high the stakes are in this transfer window. This is all about making and breaking the chase for the Premier League crown, concerning both clubs. The big question now would be whether Liverpool actually moves decisively and snatches away Zubimendi from its rivals or if City would recover from their early-season blip and set things right.

Conclusion

Considering Manchester City’s chase, the title race is getting intense in the Premier League, and this makes the upcoming transfer window in January all important to define the situation. Underlining the call by Carragher for Liverpool to make a move when it matters most, he wants his club to make their move for Zubimendi now. As City tries to claw back from recent setbacks, securing Zubimendi would be a game-changer for either club. In January, Manchester City and Liverpool will circle their calendars, hoping their respective clubs can strengthen where it matters. Be that as it may, whether Zubimendi joins eventually at Anfield or heads to the Etihad, one thing is certain: the race for the title in the Premier League is nowhere close to an end, not with the possibility of historical changes perhaps coming in the next months.