Real Sociedad react to claims Takefusa Kubo is close to joining Liverpool | OneFootball

Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay has denied there are any talks ongoing with Liverpool over a potential deal for winger Takefusa Kubo.

A report in Japan earlier in the week had cited "multiple sources" claiming negotiations between the clubs were at an advanced stage and that Kubo is "positive" about the challenge.

But while not completely ruling out a transfer at some point, Aperribay has suggested the report is wide of the mark, with Real Sociedad keen to keep the 23-year-old for obvious reason.

"There is no issue. There are no negotiations with any club," Aperribay said, via Mundo Deportivo.

"We are in the 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."

Real Sociedad are currently in Japan for a pre-season game against Gamba Osaka.

Kubo is Japan's newest international star / Koji Watanabe/GettyImages

Kubo has spent a significant portion of his life in Spain, joining Barcelona's La Masia at the age of ten after being invited for a trial. He eventually had to leave the club when they were deemed guilty of breaching FIFA rules on signing international minors, but returned to Spain upon turning 18.

That was to join fierce rivals Real Madrid, having made a senior breakthrough at FC Tokyo two years earlier. But, after various La Liga loans at Mallorca, Villarreal, Getafe and then Mallorca again, Kubo left the Bernabeu permanently for Real Sociedad without ever playing a first-team game.

Since moving to San Sebastian in 2022, Kubo has come into his own with 30 combined goals and assists in 85 appearances for the Basque club. It seems obvious why he might have attracted attention from bigger clubs across Europe, but Aperribay insists nothing is currently happening.

Kubo is not the only winger Liverpool have been linked with this summer as a revamped Anfield sporting hierarchy attempts to equip new boss Arne Slot with a squad capable of closing the gap on Arsenal and Manchester City in the Premier League.

Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon has also been the subject of rumoured interest, although manager Eddie Howe has expressed confidence that the England international, formerly of Everton, will not be leaving the club ahead of the new season.