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Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay insists Takefusa Kubo is ‘very happy’ and there have been no negotiations with Liverpool over a possible transfer move for the winger this summer.
Liverpool are on the hunt for attacking reinforcements ahead of Arne Slot’s debut season as head coach and Kubo, 23, has been heavily linked, with the Merseyside giants eyeing possible long-term replacements for Mohamed Salah.
Salah, the fifth highest goalscorer in Liverpool’s history, has just one year remaining on his current contract at Anfield and the Egyptian superstar is understood to be a top target for the Saudi Pro League.
Earlier this week, Japanese publication Sponichi indicated that talks between Kubo’s representatives and Liverpool were in the ‘final stages’, with the Reds willing to trigger the forward’s £50million release clause at Sociedad.
But senior sources at Liverpool subsequently dismissed these claims and it appears Kubo will be staying put in San Sebastian, unless the situation changes dramatically before the transfer deadline.
The speculation has threatened to overshadow Sociedad’s upcoming pre-season friendly with Gamba Osaka in Kubo’s native Japan on Thursday and Aperribay moved to quash the rumours as he faced the media on the eve of the clash.
‘There is no issue. There are no negotiations with any club,’ the Sociedad president told reporters when asked for an update on Kubo’s future.
‘We are in the transfer 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.’
Sociedad head coach, Imanol Alguacil, meanwhile, said he was confident of being able to call upon Kubo when the club get their new La Liga campaign underway at home to Rayo Vallecano on August 18.
‘At the moment they are ours and Take is here with us,’ Alguacil said.
‘I hope to count on all of them for next season.’
Kubo joined Sociedad from Real Madrid two years ago and is tied into a deal at the Reale Arena until the summer of 2029.
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