AS understands that Real Madrid and Takefusa Kubo intend to make a decision on his next destination this week, with Villarreal the favourites for his signature.
Real Madrid and Takefusa Kubo are to decide the Japanese's next destination this week, AS has learned, with Villarreal, Celta Vigo, Granada and Osasuna the clubs in the running to take the midfielder on loan next season.
Both Kubo and Real Madrid keen on Villarreal option
Of the LaLiga quartet, it is the Submarino Amarillo who are leading the race to snap up Kubo, who spent the 2019/20 season on loan at Granada.
The 19-year-old is attracted by all four suitors, but is leaning towards Villarreal. His overwhelming priority is to go to a side where he will be given the kind of prominence that will translate into at least 40 appearances over the course of the campaign.
Emery working hard to lure Kubo to La Cerámica
With this in mind, a significant consideration for the player is the effort each club's head coach is putting in to persuade him to join. New Villarreal boss Unai Emery is pushing hard for Kubo, and this could end up making up the teenager's mind - although Celta’s Óscar García is also working overtime to sell a move to Balaídos to the player.
Villarreal and Granada are Madrid’s two preferences. Although the chance to play in Europe is an issue of less importance to Kubo, it is a factor that has led Los Blancos to favour a move to one of the two clubs, who have both qualified for the 2020/21 Europa League.
Bayern Munich come calling for Kubo
Meanwhile, Madrid are considering upping the price of the deal, which was expected to cost just over five million euros (loan fee plus wages), after Bayern Munich offered the LaLiga champions a sizeable sum to take Kubo to Germany in a temporary transfer.
Bayern are understood to have made overtures to the player’s camp over the last 10 days, but were told that he does not intend to leave Spain - a stance that Madrid fully agree with.