Real Sociedad are eyeing a star at La Liga rivals as a potential replacement for Martin Zubimendi

Real Sociedad sporting director Roberto Olabe must be cursing his luck that he could have to replace both Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi in the same transfer window. They seem to have found someone to take the senior's minutes, but they didn't expect Zubimendi to leave.

The 25-year-old Euro 2024 winner is currently mulling an offer from Liverpool, with the latest being comes close to accepting it. Luka Sucic was brought in to replace Merino, and now MD say that if Zubimendi moves, it will be Pepelu from Valencia who moves.

The ex-Levante man moved to Mestalla last summer but has quickly become a starter in Ruben Baraja's midfield, balancing his side. Baraja does not want to lose his key midfielder, but if La Real put in €25 million, then a deal could be agreed Asheswhich came in for a fifth of that price last year. Baraja will do everything he can to hold on to him, and Valencia have already rejected a €15m bid from Borussia Dortmund.

Txuri-Urdin have already been in talks over another Valencia midfielder in Javi Guerra this summer, although those talks appear to have died down following the signing of Sucic. Of course, it's hard to think of too many La Liga-based alternatives who have performed better in the last 12 months than Pepelu. It is also a role that Jon Olasagasti can play, but it would be a big leap of faith from Imanol Alguacil.