Martin Zubimendi has been named in Real Sociedad's squad for their final pre-season friendly versus Union Berlin, despite being strongly linked with a move to Liverpool.

La Real travel to the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei to face Union on Friday, as they work towards their opening match in La Liga versus Rayo Vallecano on August 18.

Star midfielder Zubimendi has a £51million buyout clause in his contract and has been strongly linked with an exit in recent weeks, with Liverpool reportedly showing an interest.

The Reds are the only Premier League side yet to make a signing ahead of the 2024-25 season, which will be their first campaign under former Feyenoord boss Arne Slot.

Reports have suggested Liverpool are keen to negotiate a lower transfer fee for the Spain international, though La Real are thought unlikely to budge on their valuation.

Despite suggestions negotiations could move quickly, Zubimendi is in line to take to the field on Friday, as La Real prepare for their sixth full season under Imanol Alguacil.

Mallorca and Real Sociedad’s Copa del Rey semi-final remains finely poised after a goalless first leg.

LaLiga strugglers Mallorca will be the happier of the two despite being the home side as they failed to register a shot on target against their Champions League opposition.

Imanol Alguacil will be hoping the visitors do not live to regret their stalemate at the Estadi Son Moix when they host the second leg on February 27.

The first half was a forgettable affair as neither side really created an opening that was deserving of breaking the deadlock.

Sociedad should have bagged an away goal but Umar Sadiq missed a golden opportunity to finish from close range.

Abdon Prats shot wide with the hosts’ best chance of the game but there was little for the home fans to shout about as they hoped to upset the odds.

With a number of LaLiga’s big hitters already eliminated, these two will fancy their chances at a rare glimpse of silverware.

Mallorca have won the Copa del Rey just once in their history – back in 2003 – while Sociedad have lifted it on only two occasions, the latter of which came with a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in 2020.

That final could yet be repeated this season with Bilbao facing Atletico Madrid in the other semi-final.

While Mallorca now travel to Sociedad following this stalemate, the pair clash before that in a LaLiga fixture back at the Son Moix on February 18.