Potential Liverpool signing Takefusa Kubo made feelings clear on 'massive Man Utd proposal'

Takefusa Kubo, who is on Liverpool's target list, is said to have had a huge offer from Manchester United, only to sign a new contract with current club Real Sociedad

Liverpool-linked forward Takefusa Kubo reportedly sidestepped a huge offer from Manchester United to stay in Spain. Reports in Japan claim The Reds are now closing in on a £55million deal for the Real Sociedad sensation.

The ECHO understands a transfer is not as far along as those reports suggests, although he is certainly on Arne Slot’s radar. United were linked with the Japanese ace midway through last season as they scoured the market for a potential replacement for Brazilian flop Antony.

United were ready to offer Kubo seven times more than his current salary, according to Mundo Deportivo, with a view to a transfer this summer. The 23-year-old made his feelings clear, though, by signing a new contract with Sociedad, tying him to the La Liga club until 2029.

However, with release clauses mandatory in players’ contracts in Spain, Kubo could still be on the move this summer, with Anfield his most likely destination. The player has previously spoken of his respect for Liverpool too.

He told GOAL in 2019: "The team I find interesting in terms of football right now is Liverpool. When I watch them, I feel like, ‘What an amazing team’. This is a little different from 'liking' them, it's more like, ‘they're amazing’."

The interviewer, Akihiko Kawabata, noted The Reds were a team with fast players at the time and suggested that Kubo enjoys teams like that. Kubo replied: "I really like them. Fast and skilled players like that. I think there are players like that on every team at a strong club, and when I watch them, I think, 'Wow, they're amazing’."

Kubo has come on leaps and bounds since then. Last season, he had 12 goal involvements in 41 appearances for Sociedad as they finished sixth and qualified for the Europa League. Zinedine Zidane is a fan of the player, having hailed his performances during his loan spell at Mallorca while he was on the books at Real Madrid.

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