Liverpool Make Kubo Top Priority in Salah Succession Planning – Report

Liverpool’s long-term transfer planning continues to operate with precision, and the latest update suggests the club may have found their ideal successor to Mohamed Salah. According to TeamTalk’s Rudy Galetti, Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo is firmly on the Reds’ radar, and has been since January 2024. That’s no short-term flirtation. This is 14 months of active interest — and it’s intensifying.

Kubo, now 23, has become a standout player for the Basque side this season, recording seven goals and four assists in LaLiga. His performances have caught the eye not only of Liverpool, but also Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur. Still, sources insist that “Liverpool are the club to have shown the most concrete interest in Kubo to date.”

The structure of Liverpool’s approach has been methodical. The club has reportedly been in “contact with Kubo’s entourage for over a year, since January 2024, and have never stopped.” It’s a clear marker of Liverpool’s succession plan for Salah — a player who has defined their attacking play for the past seven years.

Kubo’s Contract and Sociedad’s Position

Kubo’s current contract with Real Sociedad includes a release clause of around €60m (£50m), which all interested clubs — including Liverpool — consider “excellent value for money.” His talent, youth, and ceiling for development make him one of the most intriguing wingers on the market this summer.

Sociedad’s potential failure to qualify for European competition may accelerate his exit. They currently sit 10th in LaLiga and are scrambling to bridge a nine-point gap to seventh-placed Real Betis. Even eighth might not be enough for Conference League football.

“Failure to qualify for Europe could force Sociedad to sell some of their best players, such as Kubo and confirmed Arsenal target Martin Zubimendi,” Galetti reports.

Liverpool will no doubt be watching Sociedad’s final run-in closely. The context here matters — a club without European revenue may be more inclined to do business, especially if release clauses are already in play.

Salah Future Dictates Kubo Deal

While Liverpool’s interest in Kubo is clear and consistent, the key domino is still Mo Salah. The Egyptian winger’s future remains uncertain, with links to Saudi Arabia refusing to go away and his contract situation still unresolved.

Per the TeamTalk report, “Salah’s future will play a fundamental role in whether Liverpool move for Kubo, but if Salah does depart Anfield, he is the NUMBER ONE target to replace him.”

That clarity is vital. Liverpool aren’t scrambling — ...