Takefusa Kubo Rejects Manchester United and Liverpool to Sign with Real Sociedad Until 2029
Liverpool, under the leadership of manager Arne Slot, was in negotiations to transfer Takefusa Kubo. However, the Japanese star rejected a lucrative offer from Manchester United and signed a new contract with Real Sociedad.
Manchester United made a significant offer for the Japanese star, considering him as a replacement for Antony. According to Express, the sevenfold salary increase offered by United did not entice Kubo, and the 23-year-old player signed a new contract with Sociedad, extending until 2029. According to a report from Sponichi in Japan, Liverpool was also interested in signing Kubo for €55 million.
Kubo’s Interest in Liverpool
In a 2019 interview with GOAL, Kubo expressed his admiration for Liverpool: “Currently, the team I find most interesting in football is Liverpool. When I watch them, I think, ‘What a magnificent team.'”
Kubo’s Performance
Since then, Kubo has shown significant development. Last season, he contributed 12 goals in 41 matches for Sociedad and helped his team qualify for the Europa League. During his time at Real Madrid, Kubo was loaned to Mallorca, where his performance caught the attention of Zinedine Zidane.
Future Plans
Kubo is planned to eventually replace Mohamed Salah in the long term. Salah, along with Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold, is entering the final year of his contract, but according to Mirror Football, Liverpool has no plans to sell Salah this summer.
Liverpool’s Sporting Director Richard Hughes stated, “It’s not appropriate for me to comment on contract situations. These are private matters between the club and the players. Alongside Arne Slot, we have no concerns other than ensuring our players are fully committed for the upcoming season, and we are confident in that.”
