Following their disappointment at losing out on Martin Zubimendi, Liverpool may now try to hijack a £36 million Chelsea deal by focussing on a different midfield target.
Liverpool has placed itself in a difficult predicament. The team has made it a goal to sign a number six in recent years. Two years ago, Jurgen Klopp had his sights set on Aurelien Tchouameni, and last summer, he also wanted to add Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.
Those deals all fell through. This time, Martin Zubimendi was the clear choice for the No. 6 position, according to Arne Slot and Liverpool’s recruitment team. But once more, it was all over and done, with Zubimendi’s decision to remain at Real Sociedad causing the deal to collapse.
Liverpool is already running out of alternatives to fill Slot’s midfield vacuum with less than three weeks till the window closes.
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Liverpool’s potential to abuse the Conor Gallagher contract
The Reds may look to a player who is already on the verge of leaving his current club and whom Liverpool has previously praised, as the club is running out of alternatives to acquire a midfielder. 
Conor Gallagher is a midfielder who is presently free to leave Chelsea and has been linked to the Reds in past transfer windows.
Before heading to Spain earlier this week to participate in negotiations for a £36 million move between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid, Gallagher has been practicing with the club’s U21 squad.
But those negotiations broke down, and Gallagher is now scheduled to return to the UK. This gives Liverpool the opportunity to sabotage the agreement and bring him to Anfield instead.
Gallagher isn’t your typical number six. But his enthusiasm might give Slot useful ammo in the midfield, freeing up Ryan Gravenberch or Alexis Mac Allister to play as substitute no. 6s instead of having to rely on them for both positions.
It would not be the best circumstance. However, Liverpool has come late, so it wouldn’t be disastrous to settle for Gallagher.