Takefusa Kubo, a forward for Real Sociedad, is allegedly close to joining Liverpool. The Japan international would be Arne Slot’s first acquisition.
Takefusa Kubo of Real Sociedad is about to join Liverpool; Arne Slot, taking over for Jurgen Klopp, is expected to make Kubo the first player he signs.
After nearly ten years under Klopp’s leadership, the Reds are starting a new chapter under Slot, and there are rumors circulating in Japan that Kubo is getting close to leaving for Anfield.
After his agents visited England, Kubo’s discussions are reportedly almost finished, according to Sponichi, a Japanese news portal. According to reports, Liverpool is spending over £55 million on Kubo, who is thought to be the heir apparent to Mohamed Salah’s position.
Even without the winger signing a new deal, Liverpool won’t consider selling Salah this summer because he, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all in the final year of their contracts.
Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes was reticent regarding contract negotiations earlier this month. “On contractual situations, I don’t think it would be fair for me to talk about these,” Hughes stated. “These are private matters between club and players.”
Focusing on the players’ levels of dedication for the forthcoming season, Hughes continued, saying, “The only concern Arne and I have about situations is total commitment from the players to the cause for next season and we’re absolutely convinced that will be the case.”
With 12 goal involvements in 41 games for Sociedad last season, the 23-year-old made an impression and helped the team to a sixth-place La Liga result and a Europa League berth. Kubo was once admired by Zinedine Zidane while he was on loan at Mallorca from Real Madrid.
“I believe he’s enjoying his season,” Zidane said of Kubo in 2019. “We’re all happy that he’s playing a lot. He is a really intriguing talent both now and in the future.
Of course, it would be preferable if he stayed at home tomorrow. I encourage him to keep going in this direction and wish him the best. But we won’t make a decision about his future until the summer. We’ll deal with that eventually.
If Kubo is able to sign a contract with Anfield, he will be the sixth Japanese player in the Premier League for the upcoming season, following Endo, Kaoru Mitoma of Brighton, Takehiro Tomiyasu of Arsenal, Daichi Kamada, a recent recruit from Crystal Palace, and Yukinari Sugawara and Renato Takaoka of Southampton.
