The Reds are two weeks into their pre-season training and are gearing up for their U.S. tour, where they will face Real Betis, Arsenal, and Manchester United. Dutch coach Arne Slot is steering a new era at Anfield after taking over from Jurgen Klopp and is hopeful that a new addition or two will bolster their prospects ahead of the Premier League campaign.
Liverpool has been actively searching for a new right-winger to eventually succeed Mohamed Salah, and Japanese international Takefusa Kubo, regarded one of the top young talents in La Liga, has caught their eye.
The 22-year-old joined Real Sociedad from Real Madrid for just £5.5 million ($7.1m) in the summer of 2022. He has since made 85 appearances for the Spanish outfit, scoring 16 goals and providing 14 assists along the way.
The Japanese international will only likely to get better as he gains experience and as a dynamic left-footed right-winger, looks an ideal replacement for Saudi Pro League-linked Mohamed Salah as speculation continues to mount around the Reds talisman's future.
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As per the latest update coming from Spanish outlet Diario AS (via Paisley Gates), the Reds have "intensified their interest" in the Asian star and are ready to pay the £50.5 million ($65m) release clause to land his signature.
Real Madrid boast a hefty 50% sell-on clause in Kubo's contract, meaning they will bank around £27.5 million ($35m) from the deal.
The Reds have been linked with the 23-year-old for a while now but now, they are ready to make a concrete move by activating the aforementioned buy-out clause to seal his signing. Kubo has travelled with Real Sociedad's squad on their pre-season trip to Japan.
