Liverpool must stop Man City signing Martin Zubimendi - but there could be a better £50m option

It was not until August 29, a day before the transfer window closed, that Liverpool made their first signing of the summer for this season. While the Reds had won their opening two games under Arne Slot at that point, questions were still being asked.

They surrounded the club's decision largely to keep their powder dry in the market after Martin Zubimendi U-turned on his decision to join Liverpool and remain loyal to Real Sociedad.

It is safe to say those questions have now been answered emphatically. Fast-forward 11 weeks and the Reds sit top of the Premier League, top of the Champions League group stage and are through to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup after Slot's winning start to his Anfield reign stretched to 15 victories from 17 matches in all competitions.

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But there remains a train of thought that Liverpool should strike while the iron is hot and bolster their squad when the transfer window reopens in January. This week Reds legend Jamie Carragher urged his former club to make a fresh move for Zubimendi in the New Year.

The 25-year-old has been linked with Liverpool's title rivals Manchester City after his Spain international team-mate Rodri, the newly crowned Ballon d'Or winner, suffered a serious injury that will rule him out for most if not all of the campaign.

Glen Johnson, who played alongside Carragher for the Reds, believes Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes must stop that from happening - despite the form of Ryan Gravenberch, who is thriving in the No.6 role, and despite the fact there could be a better option out there.

"I wouldn’t say that Liverpool don’t need him because he’s obviously a world-class player and it would be a problem if he went to Manchester City from Liverpool’s point-of-view," said Johnson on Zubimendi to Betfred. "When players like him are available, then you need to beat your rivals to his signature.

“Gravenberch’s doing a great job, but he could possibly do a better job going forward, so if Liverpool also have the opportunity to sign Zubimendi, then they need to because they won’t want him to move to Manchester City and it may be their only opportunity to sign him, so if they still have the chance to sign him, they should.”

Another midfielder who the Reds have held serious interest in previously is Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni. And reports from Spain this month suggest they are willing to test the waters with the La Liga giants - who travel to Anfield on November 27 for a mouth-watering Champions League clash - by making an initial £50m bid.

And Johnson, who made 200 appearances for Liverpool, said: "I don’t know if he’s the best pound-for-pound, but he’s definitely the best for £50million. I know it’s an awful lot of money but in football, £50m isn’t too expensive these days for big names.

"For a player that’s played at the level he has, put in the performances he has, then if you can sign him for £50m, I can’t see who you’re going to buy better than him in that position."

Johnson has also touched on the future of Mohamed Salah, who like his team-mates Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, is heading into the final six months of his contract.

The Saudi Pro League have longed desired to sign the Egyptian superstar and asked whether that would represent a good move, Johnson said: "I hope not because he’s shown that he still has a lot to give at the highest level. If he went, then we’d know why. I still believe he could do another few years at Liverpool or another top team, but the only person who knows what’s going to happen next is Mo.

"It all depends on how much passion and desire he’s still got and looking at his performances, he seems to still have plenty of both. I believe a move to Saudi Arabia is a bit too soon for him."

Salah is the highest paid player in Liverpool's history but, while he continues to deliver the goods, Johnson added: "I don’t believe a club should pay a player whatever they want because it sets a bad precedent for everybody else, but I don’t believe Mo is that sort of person anyway that would set crazy demands.

"He seems like a good, honest lad and I don’t believe the finances would be an issue for him. He’s maybe not as good as he’s ever been, but that’s still a credit to him because of how high he’s set the bar. He’s still up there with the best, that’s for sure.

"If Liverpool have the chance to keep him for another 18 months or two years, then they should."