Slot has a “particular” gem out on mortgage who may very well be Liverpool’s personal Zubimendi

Liverpool have been knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday evening after they have been crushed by Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain on penalties within the final 16.

The Reds, who had gained 1-0 in Paris final week, have been crushed 1-0 in regular time, due to a purpose from Ousmane Dembele, earlier than dropping on spot-kicks.

Italy worldwide Gianluigi Donnarumma, who isn’t any stranger to being a penalty hero on these shores, stepped as much as forestall each Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones from scoring.

Nunez and Jones will get criticism for his or her misses however there have been a number of people who did not carry out through the match, together with Dutch midfielder Ryan Gravenberch.

The Netherlands worldwide accomplished zero of his two tried dribbles and misplaced 70% (7/10) of his floor duels on the evening, which reveals that he was too straightforward for the PSG midfield to play in opposition to.

The plan for this season might not have all the time been for him to be the first-choice holding midfielder, nevertheless, as there was well-publicised curiosity in Martin Zubimendi within the earlier summer time switch window.

Liverpool’s curiosity in Martin Zubimendi

Liverpool have been fascinated about a deal to carry the Spain worldwide to Anfield forward of the 2025/26 marketing campaign to bolster their choices within the quantity six place.

Sky Sports activities reported that the spectacular midfielder, who gained the European Championship with Spain final summer time, was anticipated to maneuver on from Actual Sociedad earlier than the tip of the window, as a consequence of a £51m launch clause that was in his contract on the time.

The outlet added, nevertheless, that Zubimendi turned down the prospect to make the transfer to England after his membership supplied him a brand new contract on increased wages, which satisfied him to stay with the LaLiga outfit.

This meant that Liverpool missed out on a deal to carry the defensive midfielder to Merseyside, and they didn’t decide to seek out an alternate earlier than the tip of the window – going with Gravenberch and Wataru Endo as their quantity six choices.

Earlier this yr, Arne Slot all-but-confirmed the membership’s curiosity within the Spaniard when talking about his midfield composition, saying: “I even suppose the participant we wished to usher in [Zubimendi] – I believe that’s just about out within the open now – he was additionally a participant who was actually snug. He’s nonetheless a participant who might carry the ball from the final line to our forwards.”

Regardless of his poor exhibiting in opposition to PSG on Tuesday evening, Gravenberch’s type for the membership this season might have alleviated any considerations concerning the failure to carry Zubimendi to Anfield in the summertime, as he has been a unbelievable performer on the base of the midfield.

Ryan Gravenberch’s type in comparison with Martin Zubimendi

The Netherlands worldwide has began 29 instances within the Premier League this season, which reveals that he has emerged as a constant starter below Slot because the holding midfielder.

Gravenberch has supplied a dominant presence in midfield, successful 56% of his floor duels and 72% of his aerial contests, while Zubimendi has gained 56% of his floor duels and 66% of his aerial battles in 26 LaLiga matches this season.

This reveals that they’re each holding midfielders who can dominate opposition gamers on the bottom and within the air, screening in entrance of their again 4.

As you’ll be able to see within the chart above, Zubimendi and Gravenberch excel in comparable areas of the sport, as they each supply little as goalscorers or creators however thrive defensively and of their passing sport.

Nonetheless, the chart does additionally present that the Spaniard affords extra per 90 from a defensive perspective than the Dutchman, which means that he might supply barely extra with regards to breaking apart assaults and clearing hazard.

Liverpool, although, might have their very own model of Zubimendi brewing in a younger star who’s presently out on mortgage away from Anfield, in 20-year-old starlet Stefan Bajcetic.

Why Stefan Bajcetic may very well be Slot’s personal Zubimendi

The Spain U21 worldwide, who has performed 22 instances for Liverpool’s first-team, is presently on mortgage at Las Palmas in LaLiga and is a participant with the potential to be the proper modern-day quantity six sooner or later.

While he might not have been 100% able to step into Slot’s beginning line-up this season, therefore his mortgage strikes to RB Salzburg and Las Palmas, Bajcetic may very well be a future star for the Reds and save the membership thousands and thousands on signing one other holding midfielder.

The Spanish starlet might return to Anfield in the summertime and compete for a spot within the crew in pre-season, permitting Slot to save lots of the board thousands and thousands by unleashing him as competitors for Gravenberch – fairly than trying to return in for Zubimendi.

Bajcetic, who stands at 6 foot 1, is a towering, but slim-built, quantity six who can cowl floor to make defensive interventions, while additionally offering high quality in possession together with his use of the ball, as defined by ‘Serbian Soccer Scout’ on X again in 2023.

He has made six appearances in LaLiga since his transfer to Las Palmas in January and averaged 3.1 tackles and interceptions per sport, in addition to 2.7 clearances per match, while Zubimendi has made 3.4 tackles and interceptions and a pair of.1 clearances per match within the division.

This means that Bajcetic, who was as soon as dubbed “particular” by author Zubin Daver, can supply comparable qualities within the quantity six place from a defensive perspective, as he has carried out to an identical degree in that space in LaLiga.

After all, there may be nonetheless a lot to be taught for him on the age of 20 and his use of the ball might nonetheless do with enchancment. He accomplished 82% of his passes within the Bundesliga with Salzburg, however that has dropped to 72% in LaLiga with Las Palmas.

Nonetheless, Bajcetic has different qualities on the ball that transcend his go completion price, as was showcased throughout his spell within the Liverpool first-team within the 2022/23 marketing campaign.

As you’ll be able to see within the desk above, {the teenager} might not have been environment friendly together with his passes, however he supplied loads of high quality by driving ahead with the ball and attempting to make issues occur within the opposition’s field.

On the age of 20, there may be nonetheless lots for Bajcetic to be taught and he might not instantly step into the beginning XI subsequent season. Nonetheless, there are many promising indicators from the teenager, who might become Slot’s personal model of Zubimendi, saving the membership thousands and thousands within the course of.