Liverpool given HOPE in chase for Mo Salah successor Takefusa Kubo | OneFootball

Mohamed Salah will remain a Liverpool player next season, but that hasn’t stopped the Reds’ succession planning.

The Egyptian King is in the prime of his career, but Liverpool have already started to assess options to eventually replace the legendary forward at Anfield.

One of the names on the list to come in and provide backup for Salah before eventually stepping up as Liverpool’s first choice right-winger is Takefusa Kubo.

The Japanese forward has been on the Reds’ radar for some time, and the chance of him moving this summer seems to have just increased.

Kubo looks likely to leave Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad have struggled this season. They currently sit 12th in La Liga and as such their manager, Imanol Alguacil, is stepping down at the end of the season.

When this news broke a couple of weeks ago it was reported that three Real Sociedad players had handed in transfer requests as a result. Kubo, Martin Zubimendi and Jon Aramburu.

Now, Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Zubimendi is set to move to Arsenal when the window opens and, although some Liverpool supporters will be disappointed to see him join a Premier League rival, there is definitely a positive take away.

Real Sociedad appear to be honouring the transfer requests that were reportedly made and, seeing as it is now mathematically impossible for the club to qualify for the Champions League, Kubo looks to be available this summer.

Would Kubo be a good fit at Liverpool?

At just 23-years-old, Kubo is a player that could become a mainstay at Anfield for the next decade.

The Japan international is capable of playing on both wings, as well as through the middle as a striker and a number 10.

This versatility could be key to his role at Liverpool if he were to move to Merseyside, as Salah’s right-wing spot is likely to be unavailable for a little while yet.

Kubo could play a similar role to the one Luis Diaz has performed this season, swapping between the left-wing and the no.9 role depending on the other players selected.

The former Barcelona and Real Madrid man reportedly has a €60 million release clause in his contract, but he could move for even less than that if he is pushing for a departure.