Liverpool have offered Real Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo a contract worth €15m a year (£243,000 a week), according to Sponichi.
The Japanese sports newspaper claims that the Reds are hoping to sign the 23-year-old, and they are willing to trigger his €65m (£54.8m) release clause.
Kubo is a left-footed right winger so it’s clear what the plan is. He will be Mo Salah’s replacement if he does complete his switch to Anfield.
Of course, it remains to be seen if this report is backed by sources in the UK but Sponichi may well have a contact close to negotiations, considering Kubo’s nationality.
What do fans need to know about Kubo?
The Japanese international is an outstanding dribbler with a very low centre of gravity, reminiscent of Lionel Messi. Of course, he isn’t on the same level as the Argentinian legend and there are question marks about his consistency.
Kubo started last season in great form, scoring 5 goals in his first 7 league games for Sociedad, but he only hit the back of the net two more times before the campaign ended.
Are Liverpool looking at any other wingers?
In addition to Kubo, the Reds have been linked with a whole host of other wide forwards over the past few months. PSV Eindhoven’s Johan Bakayoko has been mentioned as a possible target in the Dutch media, and the Belgian international has expressed his interest in moving to a top club.
Other names, such as Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi, have been suggested as alternatives but Kubo does seem like a very Liverpool type of signing. He’s the right age and he has the potential to excel in the future so we shall see if there is any truth to this story.
