Manchester United had expressed strong interest in Takefusa Kubo during the previous season as they sought a potential replacement for Antony, whose performances since his arrival at Old Trafford have been below expectations. Reports suggested that United were prepared to offer Kubo an eye-watering seven-fold salary increase to entice him to join their ranks. Despite the lucrative offer, Kubo, 23, opted to remain with Real Sociedad, signing a new contract that will keep him at the La Liga club until 2029.
However, the situation has evolved significantly in the past six months. Liverpool is now reportedly keen on acquiring Kubo for approximately £55 million, according to Japanese outlet Sponichi. This interest aligns with Kubo’s previously expressed admiration for Liverpool. In an interview with GOAL in 2019, Kubo remarked, “The team I find interesting in terms of football right now is Liverpool.
Kubo’s development since then has been impressive. Over the past season, he contributed 12 goals and assists in 41 appearances for Sociedad, helping them secure a sixth-place finish in La Liga and qualify for the Europa League. His performances have also attracted praise from notable figures in the football world. Zinedine Zidane, for instance, commended Kubo’s displays during his loan spell at Mallorca, reflecting his rising stature in European football.
There have been suggestions that Kubo is being considered as a potential long-term successor to Mohamed Salah at Liverpool. Salah, along with Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, is in the final year of his contract. While Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes has recently commented on the contractual situation, he has refrained from discussing specifics, emphasizing that these matters are confidential between the club and the players.
Despite these uncertainties, Liverpool’s pursuit of Kubo underscores their proactive approach to planning for the future. The potential signing of Kubo, with his blend of technical skill and dynamic playmaking abilities, could be a strategic move to ensure continuity and excellence in their attacking lineup as they look to maintain their competitive edge in both domestic and European competitions.
