Liverpool have joined Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign highly-rated Real Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo.
Takefusa Kubo, 23, enjoyed a strong 2023/24 season, scoring seven goals and supplying four assists in 24 La Liga starts, helping Real Sociedad secure a Europa League spot. The Japanese international has started the new campaign in impressive fashion, netting three times in just nine league starts, attracting the attention of the top European clubs.
The winger has a €60 million release clause in his contract that runs until the summer of 2029. Liverpool are reportedly the latest club to show an interest in Kubo, who is also on the radar of Bayern Munich.
Liverpool set to battle Spurs for Takefusa Kubo’s signature
Tottenham haven’t enjoyed a great start to the season and the shock 2-1 defeat to newly promoted Ipswich Town before the international break left them 10th in the table, although they remain only three points adrift of third-place Chelsea.
The Lilywhites invested millions in the summer transfer window, with majority of the budget going towards the record-signing of Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth. However, with Son Heung-min ageing, Timo Werner expected to return back to RB Leipzig after his loan spell and Dejan Kulusevski transformed into a central midfielder by Ange Postecoglou, Spurs could do well with a new wide player.
Kubo, in that regard, would be a smart fit at Tottenham. The 23-year-old’s pace, dribbling skills and directness fit nicely into the aggressive and pressing style that Ange Postecoglou wants his team to play week in, week out. Capable of operating as a right-sided winger as well as a central attacking midfielder, he will bring variety and dynamism to the Spurs squad.
As for Liverpool, they remain in the hunt for a Mohamed Salah’s long-term replacement. Salah, who has been one of the world’s best players in the last five years, will be a free agent at the end of the season. As a result, the Egyptian will be eligible to discuss pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs in January.
Due to Kubo’s style of play, he certainly seems like the ideal replacement for Salah. The ex-Real Madrid man has the attributes to develop into a top-quality winger in the future and he could be an asset for Liverpool. The Kawasaki-born attacker has proven himself in La Liga, and there is no doubt that he has the mix of technical skills and physicality to thrive in the Premier League.
Currently into his third season with Real Sociedad, Kubo could be interested in securing a high-profile move in the Premier League next year. So, it will be interesting to see which club are willing to pay his €60 million release clause.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
