Real Madrid could pocket $29m if Liverpool completes exciting transfer

Liverpool is being linked with a transfer move for Japan forward Takefusa Kubo , with reports in the player's homeland suggesting that a deal is close to being agreed for the 23-year-old winger.

The Japanese outlet Sponichi Annex claimed over the weekend that Liverpool was "preparing" an offer and that the Reds are supposedly willing to offer an eye-watering salary to get a deal over the line. The report claimed that a weekly salary of around $310k (£240k/€285k) has been placed on the table, though that seems a little far-fetched.

And thanks to a sell-on clause Real Madrid inserted into the deal that saw him depart Los Blancos for Real Sociedad, AS reports that it could receive as much as $29m (£23m/€27m). Kubo's release clause, the Spanish outlet says, is actually set at $65m (£51m/€60m) — but Real Madrid would be owed almost half of that sum.

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The La Liga giant owns 50 per cent of the player's rights above $6.5m (£5.0m/€6.0m) which leaves around $29m for Real Madrid. That would only be the figure, of course, if the full release clause was paid.

Kubo played 41 times for Real Sociedad last season. The Japanese international scored seven times and provided five assists in that time but his underlying numbers suggest that he could improve with better players around him.

Kubo spent three years on the books of Real Madrid and was talked up by then-manager Zinedine Zidane during his excellent loan spell at Mallorca. Speaking ahead of Los Blancos' clash with Mallorca in 2019, the French boss said: "I think he's having a good season."

"He's playing a lot and that's what we all wanted," Zidane continued. "He is a very interesting player, for the present and the future. I'm happy he's doing well. Of course, if he were to stay at home tomorrow then that'd be better. But, I wish him the best and urge him to continue like this. His future, though, we won't decide until the summer. That's something for later."

Liverpool.com says: Kubo is a decent enough player but the suggested transfer fee that could be involved seems very large. Liverpool could probably find better value elsewhere on the market for someone with a relatively modest track record when it comes to finding the back of the net.