Liverpool ready to trigger €60 million release clause for 23-year-old forward; Real Madrid will receive €27 million if deal goes through: Reports
Real Madrid will supposedly earn €27 million if Liverpool trigger Takefusa Kubo's €60 million release clause at Real Sociedad. This, according to reports, could be a real possibility in this summer transfer window.
As per Japanese outlet Sponichi Annex (via Diario AS), the Reds are willing to meet Kubo's buyout clause. A product of the Barcelona youth academy, he joined Real Madrid on a free transfer from FC Tokyo in 2019.
After multiple loan spells and without a single senior appearance for Real Madrid, Kubo left the Santiago Bernabeu in 2022 to join Real Sociedad. The two clubs agreed on a €6 million fee, with Los Blancos putting a clause that would see them earn 50% on the capital gains made by his future sale.
This isn't the first time the Reds have been linked with Kubo, but this time, the report states, they will make a big effort to sign him. The 23-year-old winger recorded seven goals and four assists in 30 La Liga matches last season and.
Kubo is making a name for himself in Spain, where his dribbling ability along with his defensive diligence have gained admirers. Liverpool, it must be kept in mind, could soon lose Mohamed Salah if he doesn't pen a new deal, with the current one expiring at the end of the 2024-25 season.
The aforementioned report states that Liverpool could now be set to negotiate Kubo's potential salary with his agent. The Japanese winger, whose contract at Sociedad runs until 2029, currently earns just over €48,000 in gross weekly wages (via Capology).
Former Real Madrid winger Takefusa Kubo once admitted his fondness for Liverpool
Takefusa Kubo was seemingly impressed with Liverpool when they were at their peak of their powers under Jurgen Klopp. He sat down for an interview with GOAL Japan in April 2019 — just over a month before Liverpool's 2-0 UEFA Champions League final win over Tottenham Hotspur.
There, the versatile forward was asked to name the team that he liked watching. He replied:
"I don't have a particular sense of favoring any team. What I find interesting as a soccer is now Liverpool. I feel like "it's a great team" while watching it. This is a slightly different feeling from "I like" and it is a feeling of "amazing"."
Kubo was plying his trade for FC Tokyo that season — a club he represented 30 times at the senior level, with six goals and four assists to his name. Liverpool, meanwhile, followed up their Champions League win with a much-awaited Premier League title in their next campaign.