Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay has responded to reports of Liverpool being in the final stages of a deal to sign Takefusa Kubo for £50m this summer.
Liverpool are yet to make a signing this summer but new manager Arne Slot is keen on putting his stamp on the squad following the departure of Jurgen Klopp.
One of the priorities is thought to be finding a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah, who .
Salah has just a year remaining on his contract and if he s not lured away to the Saudi Pro League this summer he will surely depart for nothing in a years time.
And reports in Japan earlier this week claimed that talks between Kubo s representatives and Liverpool were in the final stages and the Reds were ready to trigger the winger s £50m release clause.
Kubo joined Sociedad from Real Madrid for £5m in the summer of 2022 and has 16 goals and 14 assists in 85 appearances for the La Liga side and compatriot Wataru Endo – who joined Liverpool from Stuttgart at the start of last season – fanned the flames when discussing possible replacements for Salah.
Asked which Japanese player he’d like to join him at Anfield, Endo said bluntly: Kubo.
The midfielder then added: The search for a replacement for Mohamed Salah has begun, so this is becoming a real area for Liverpool to strengthen. I think the player who can replace him, in the national team, would be Kubo.
Sociedad are currently preparing for a pre-season freindly against Gamba Osaka in Kubo s native Japan and Aperribay insisted there had been no contact from Liverpool or other interested parties in his prized asset ahead of the clash.
There is no issue. There are no negotiations with any club, the Sociedad president told reporters on Wednesday.
We are in the transfer market, anything can happen. But Take is very happy at Real and will stay. We love Kubo very much, we hope he stays at Real forever.
Sociedad head coach Imanol Alguacil said he was confident of being able to call upon Kubo when the club get their new La Liga campaign underway at home to Rayo Vallecano on August 18.
At the moment they are ours and Take is here with us,’ Alguacil said. I hope to count on all of them for next season.
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Another possible replacement for Salah is Real Madrid star Arda Guler, who starred for Turkey at the European Championships this summer.
Reports in Spain indicate that Liverpool have made Guler an ‘offer he can’t refuse’ as they look to lure him away from the Bernabeu this summer.