Yesterday, Japan media "Sports Japan" exclusively revealed that Kubo Kenei's transfer to Liverpool has entered the final stage, and the agent has arrived in Liverpool to negotiate the final contract details. According to British media, Liverpool's offer is 55 million pounds (equivalent to 65 million euros), and if the transfer is ultimately completed, the 23-year-old Japan midfielder will not only become the most expensive player in Asian history, but also the highest-paid Asian player (15 million euros).
Back in April, Spain media outlet Fichajes revealed that Liverpool were willing to activate Kenei Kubo's release fee (60 million euros), but the deal progressed quickly and was close to completion in recent days. At the end of June, Spain's El Monde Sport claimed that Tottenham's offer of 50 million euros was rejected, and Manchester United and Liverpool also kept an eye on Kubo, but it was Liverpool who started first.
Liverpool are interested in Kubo for both competitive and economic reasons. Athletically, he is looking for a replacement for Salah, who scored seven goals and provided eight assists in 41 games for Real Sociedad last season and led the team to the Champions League. The British media "Daily Express" reprinted Zidane's evaluation of Kubo Jianying, and the France legend believes that his all-round ability in attack is exactly what Liverpool needs most.
Economically, on June 25, Liverpool just signed a contract with Japan Airlines, which became a global partner of Liverpool. Tokyo Sports believes that this sponsorship deal could be an important impetus for Liverpool to sign Kenei Kubo. Japan fans are even looking forward to Liverpool, who have Kenei Kubo, coming to Japan next summer to play a commercial match, bringing greater economic value to both sides.
When Real Sociedad signed Kenei Kubo from Real Madrid two years ago, they spent only 6.5 million euros. Two years later, Kubo helped the team reach the Champions League, earning at least 50 million euros, and now it may bring up to 10 times the return on the transfer fee, which can be said to have doubled. Kubo's contract expires in the summer of 2029 and includes a €60 million release clause. However, Liverpool's offer is higher than the release fee.
Real Madrid have 50% ownership of Kubo and can be given priority to buy back at a low price of €30 million, or receive 50% of the transfer fee after Kubo's transfer. However, Spain media confirmed that Real Madrid have no interest in buying back, clearing potential transfer barriers.
Liverpool's Japan national team Nagato also facilitated the deal. Kubo also wants the transfer to be completed and has been learning English for a while so that he can communicate on a basic day-to-day basis. Japanese media such as "Sports News" and "Nikkan Sports" believe that after the commercial match between Gamba and Real Sociedad on the 25th, there will be a substantial breakthrough in the transfer of Kenei Kubo.
Since the beginning of the new century, Japanese and South Korean players have been fiercely competing for the title of "Asia's Most Expensive Player".
At the beginning of 2000, Hidetoshi Nakata transferred from Perugia to Roma, and the transfer fee for Asian players exceeded 10 million euros for the first time, reaching 21.7 million euros; In the summer of 2001, Hidetoshi Nakata set a new record when he joined Parma for 28.4 million euros. This record stood for 14 years and was not broken until Son Heung-min moved from Bayer Leverkusen to Tottenham (30 million) in the summer of 2015.
At the beginning of 2019, Shoya Nakajima joined Qatar's Al-Duhail from Portimão for 35 million euros, surpassing Son Heung-min and regaining the title of "Asia's most expensive"; In the summer window last year, Kim Min-jae joined Bayern Munich from Napoli (50 million euros) and once again occupied the position of the most expensive player in Asia. But Kubo Kenei is likely to set another record in just one year's time.
The Korean media was very shocked that Liverpool was likely to sign Kenei Kubo at a high price. In addition to Kubo Kenei will become the most expensive player in Asia, his weekly salary of 250,000 pounds also exceeds Son Heung-min's 200,000 at Tottenham, becoming the highest-paid player in Asia. The transfer fee and the highest annual salary record for Asian players held by Korea players will be broken by Kubo Kenying, and Korean media Osen, Inter Football, and Xsports have reported Kubo Kenying's transfer rumors, believing that this is a huge blow to Korea football.
The addition of Keneiru Kubo to Liverpool will increase the number of Japan players playing in the Premier League to six, the other five being Endo (Liverpool), Tomiyasu Kenhiro (Arsenal), Katsukasa (Brighton), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace) and Yusei Sugawara (Southampton). In addition, in March next year, 18-year-old striker Takaoka Lingsa will officially join Southampton; Korea only have 4 players, Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolves), Hwang Yi-suke (Nottingham Forest) and Kim Ji-shu (Brentford), of which Kim Ji-shu has not yet been able to establish himself in the first team; Australia have seven Premier League players, three have been promoted in the new season, and the other four are also not yet in the first team.
Kubo's move to Liverpool will greatly boost the enthusiasm of Japan players to travel to Europe, and at the same time increase the interest of clubs in the five major leagues in Japan players. Spain media Xcata lunya has said that because of the "Kubo Kenei effect", Real Sociedad wants to sign another Japanese player, aiming for striker Yuito Suzuki, who plays for Danish Super League giants Copenhagen.