Liverpool have identified Real Sociedad’s Martín Zubimendi as their first major signing of the summer. It is understood the Euro 2024 winner with Spain, who has a reported release clause of £51m, is viewed as a viable option to fill the defensive midfield role. That position has been in need of strengthening since the departure of Fabinho 12 months ago. The Japan international Wataru Endo was brought in from Stuttgart late in the window for £16m after Liverpool missed out on a couple of other targets but the now 31-year-old was viewed as a short-term solution. For a large proportion of last season Alexis Mac Allister was deployed as a No 6 and last month Liverpool rejected a £12m bid from Marseille for Endo. A move for the 25-year-old Zubimendi would be the first significant business for the new sporting director, Richard Hughes, who said last month that July would be quiet owing to ongoing international tournaments but August would bring “a crescendo” of transfer activity. Fulham’s Tim Ream has joined the MLS side Charlotte FC after nine years with the club in which the defender made 312 appearances, second only in the 21st century to Tom Cairney. “The memories made, the connections formed and the people met along the way have made my time at Fulham more than special,” the 36-year-old said. The Tottenham striker Alejo Véliz has joined Espanyol on loan for the season, having spent the second half of last term on loan at Sevilla.