Arsenal, Liverpool in race to sign former Real Madrid superstar

According to recent reports, Arsenal are all set to battle with their Premier League rivals, Liverpool, to secure the services of the former Los Blancos superstar. The Merseyside outfit and Arsenal are set to lock their horns to secure the signature of Takefusa Kubo in the upcoming summer transfer window. 

Mohamed Salah’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season and there has been no interest shown by the club’s hierarchy to extend the contract of the right winger. Even in a recent interview, he expressed his disappointment by mentioning that he is more out than in the club. 

"Well, we are almost in December and I haven't received any offers yet to stay at the club. I'm probably more out than in." Salah was quoted as saying in NBC. 

The Premier League title challengers, Liverpool are considering Takefusa Kubo as Mohamed Salah replacement. The pacey and tricky winger is seen as a long term replacement at the club for the Egyptian King. 

On the other hand, this also raises the doubts over Federico Chiesa’s future at the club. The Italian was signed from Juventus in a deal worth € 12 million but has failed to make it to the first team. He has only three appearances at this point, raising concerns over his form and fitness. The Kubo deal could be the final nail in the coffin of the player’s Liverpool career. 

Whereas for Arsenal, signing the Japanese international would be more to play a second fiddle for Bukayo Saka, who has struggled to take a break in the absence of the choice for Mikel Arteta. Ever since Kubo joined Real Sociedad from Real Madrid in 2022, he has 20 goals and 15 assists in 103 fixtures. In the ongoing campaign, across all competitions, the 23-year-old winger has five G/A from 18 games. 

If any of the clubs succeeds in persuading the player to move to England, the deal won't be cheap. Takefusa Kubo has the contract till 2029, and with more than five seasons remaining on the contract, Arsenal and Liverpool might have to shell around €60 million to sign the player. It remains interesting to see the approach of the club in the upcoming transfer windows.