Liverpool target Takefusa Kubo overlooked a jaw-dropping offer from Manchester United to sign a new contract with Real Sociedad.
The Red Devils were linked with the Japanese star midway through last season as they hunted a potential replacement for Antony, who has underwhelmed ever since arriving at Old Trafford and could soon be offloaded. United were ready to offer Kubo a whopping seven-fold salary increase as per the Express.
However, it was not enough to tempt the 23-year-old, who promptly signed a new contract with Sociedad, tying him to the La Liga club until 2029. However, more than six months later, the landscape has changed, with Liverpool said to be keen on signing the former Mallorca and Getafe loanee for around £55million, reports Japanese outlet Sponichi.
Kubo has previously spoken of his respect for Liverpool. He told GOAL in 2019: "The team I find interesting in terms of football right now is Liverpool. When I watch them, I feel like, ‘What an amazing team’. This is a little different from 'liking' them, it's more like, 'they're amazing'."
Kubo has developed impressively since then. Last season, he had 12 goal involvements in 41 appearances for Sociedad as they finished sixth and qualified for the Europa League. None other than Zinedine Zidane is a fan of the player, having hailed his performances during his loan spell at Mallorca while he was on the books at Real Madrid.
It has been suggested that Kubo has been earmarked as Mohamed Salah's long-term successor. The Egyptian has entered the final year of his contract, along with Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold but Mirror Football understands Liverpool have ruled out selling him this summer even if he does not sign a new deal.
"On contractual situations, I don't think it would be fair for me to talk about these," Liverpool's sporting director Richard Hughes said recently. "These are private matters between club and players.
"The only concern I and Arne [Slot] have about situations is total commitment from the players to the cause for next season and we're absolutely convinced that will be the case."