Liverpool is reportedly eyeing Japanese international Takefusa Kubo for a summer transfer, but they may need to act swiftly to secure the deal.
According to *Mundo Deportivo*, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are also interested in Kubo, with Tottenham already making an offer below his release clause of around $63.4 million (£50 million/€59.3 million).
This situation could provide Liverpool with a chance to sign Kubo as a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah, whose future at Anfield is uncertain as he approaches the final year of his contract.
So, who is Kubo, and what could he bring to Liverpool under manager Arne Slot? *Liverpool.com* explains that Kubo’s football journey started in Japan, where he was scouted by Barcelona at the age of eight.
He joined their famed La Masia academy at ten in 2011 and spent four years in Europe.
However, due to Barcelona’s violation of FIFA’s rules on international transfers for under-18 players, Kubo became ineligible to play for the club and returned to Japan in 2015, signing with FC Tokyo.
Kubo’s talent soon attracted the attention of Real Madrid, who signed him on a five-year deal in 2019. After a pre-season stint, Kubo was loaned to Mallorca, where he made his La Liga debut.
He also had loan spells at Villarreal and Getafe before rejoining Mallorca in 2021. In 2022, Kubo permanently moved to Real Sociedad, having never made a senior appearance for Real Madrid.
Since joining Real Sociedad, Kubo has scored 16 goals and provided eight assists in 65 league matches. He also has four goals in 35 appearances for Japan, often playing alongside Liverpool’s Wataru Endo.
Nicknamed “the Japanese Messi,” Kubo was once seen as a future star. Despite the weight of this comparison, the 23-year-old has continued to excel.
In 2019, Kubo stated, “Being called the Japanese Messi is an honor and makes me proud, but I’m still not at his level, and I prefer to focus on my abilities and strengths.”
For those unfamiliar with Kubo’s playing style, *FBref* compares him to players like Said Benrahma, Mykhailo Mudryk, Jack Grealish, and Nico Williams.
Like Salah, Kubo is a left-footed attacker who primarily operates from the right wing. In a 2020 interview with *France Football*, Kubo shared his ambitions:
“My dream has always been to become one of the best players, and I won’t stop working to achieve that.
I’ve always said that my goal was to play for Real Madrid, and I work for that, doing the best job I can even if I don’t know what will happen. I love being able to play football in one of the best leagues in the world.”
Liverpool’s interest in Kubo is understandable given his potential and impressive performances.
However, with competition from other top clubs and a substantial release clause, securing his transfer could be a challenging but valuable pursuit for the Reds.
