The latest Liverpool transfer rumour centres around Real Sociedad star Takefusa Kubo. The Reds have been credited with an interest in signing the Japan international, as the summer transfer window continues to roll on.
Liverpool are yet to add any new signings to their squad but that has not stopped the speculation from continuing to swirl. Arne Slot is the new head coach of the Reds and has already been busy working with his newly inherited squad ahead of his first Premier League campaign in charge.
Reports from Japanese news outlet Sports Nippon have claimed that Liverpool are closing in on an agreement worth €60 million (£51 million) with Sociedad to sign Kubo. The 23-year-old has been tipped to be a potential long-term successor for Mohamed Salah, whose future has also been debated on the rumour mill.
Salah has just one year remaining on his current deal with Liverpool and it remains to be seen if an extension will be agreed upon before the contract expires. As a result of that doubt, Salah has been linked with a move away from Anfield this summer with the Saudi Pro League tipped to be a potential destination.
Our ECHO writers have provided their verdicts on the recent Kubo-to-Liverpool transfer links, and whether or not it's a good idea for the club.
Mark Wakefield
This is not the first time that Salah's future has been the cause for speculation and it won't be the last. This time, the rumour involves a second player who could be considered as his long-term replacement.
It's unlikely that Liverpool would want to allow Salah to leave this summer, regardless of what potential successor they had lined up. That being said, it would be extremely naive if a plan wasn't in place for when the time comes that the Egyptian does wave goodbye to Anfield.
Kubo is a player who has been widely regarded as a future star of the sport - Real Madrid certainly thought so when they signed him back in 2019. A fee of £51 million is a lot of money for Liverpool to spend on a player, and has only happened a handful of times in the Fenway Sports Group era.
When Liverpool have spent that kind of money, it's been for a player who can immediately be handed a starting role in the team and has the potential for further improvement, too. In Kubo's case, though, his favoured position also happens to be the same as Salah's.
The signing of Kubo for this fee would suggest that Liverpool must have a plan in place for the coming season. That could either be changing the positions of one or both Salah and Kubo, respectively, or the more unlikely preparing for the 32-year-old's departure.
Kieran Horn
If Liverpool can land Takefusa Kubo of Real Sociedad, Mohamed Salah's future at Anfield will become quite clear. Spending such a fee on a transfer will undoubtedly see him considered a marquee signing and with that will certainly arrive significant minutes.
Though Salah still has a part to play in Arne Slot's first campaign at the club, there is no harm in preparing for his eventual departure. With his contract up in 2025 and a desire to play in Saudi Arabia clear, Liverpool would likely need a replacement anyway so it makes complete sense to try and sign one now.
By sorting it 12 months earlier, Kubo will have one season to adapt to English football and learn as much as he can from Salah. With Liverpool back in the Champions League, having quality depth is vital to completing for several trophies and signing Kubo would certainly do that.
Managing both players, as they fight for one position could be a challenge for Slot, but if the plan is laid out clear to both ahead of the upcoming season, it has the potential to be the perfect situation.
Isaac Seelochan
Salah has been a phenomenal player for Liverpool but I feel this could be one season too far for the Egyptian. We saw how his form dropped off quite dramatically in the second half of 2023/24 and it's hard to see how he gets better at the age of 32.
With Liverpool set for a new era under Arne Slot, it will help the Dutchman if he is able to stamp his authority on the club with fresh talent. The Reds need to look towards the future which is why I think it's time for them to say goodbye to Salah, especially when he only has a year left on his current deal.
Whether Kubo would be able to fill the considerable boots left by Salah remains to be seen, but the Egyptian's fading impact should make the transition easier. I would question whether Kubo is capable of being able to score the decisive goals which became a trademark of Salah's career at Anfield.
But it's easy to forget that many questioned Liverpool signing Salah from Fiorentina in 2017 after his struggles at Chelsea. Ultimately, I think signing Kubo is a risk with his numbers in Spain not being that impressive but it may turn out to be another masterstroke.
Amie Wilson
The sensible thing for Liverpool to do is to plan ahead for the eventuality that Salah leaves the club. While it may not be this summer, the blow of losing him for nothing in one year would be significantly cushioned if they have a long-term replacement waiting in the wings.
While the proposed £50 million transfer fee seems high, especially for a player who may not be first choice for the first season, having a campaign learning from Salah before taking over his role next summer would be a massive bonus in bringing a young replacement in.
At just 23 years old, the Japanese international is at an age where he can still improve, and could be a long-term investment for the club. It’d be more sensible to spend the money now than scratching around for a Salah replacement in 12 months time and not buying the right player, or overpaying for their main target.
Matt Abbott
Liverpool signing Kubo this summer, a year before Salah's contract expires, would feel reminiscent of when Luis Diaz arrived six months before the club let Sadio Mane leave and when pre-empting the departure of Roberto Firmino by adding Darwin Nunez and then Cody Gakpo ahead of time. Salah becoming the final member of that front three to exit is an eventuality, if not necessarily this summer, then seemingly next.
The club have not always been proactive in replacing players before they leave, notably by overhauling the whole midfield before the start of last season. However, with Julian Ward and Michael Edwards returning to Fenway Sports Group, it is no surprise that has coincided with recruitment looking more than one transfer window ahead again.
As for Kubo, the former Barcelona youth player is finally beginning to fulfil the promise that compelled the Catalan club to violate FIFA's international transfer policy before he was even a teenager. After eventually returning to Spain with Real Madrid, the Japan international has since settled at Real Sociedad after several loan spells across La Liga.
Martin Odegaard endured similar, going from hardly getting a look in at the Bernabeu before flourishing in San Sebastian and ultimately arriving at Arsenal. Kubo has proven himself more than the Norweign did in white and blue, stringing together two impressive seasons rather than an eye-catching loan spell, and a move to Anfield could now be the next step.
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