Why Liverpool have identified Takefusa Kubo as a potential Salah successor

 

There will come a day when Liverpool need to cut ties with Mohamed Salah. The Egypt forward turned 32 last month and has entered the final year of his current deal at Anfield, heightening speculation that'll he depart Merseyside sooner rather than later. Salah was the subject of interest from Saudi sides last summer, and while the club are adament he won't be going anywhere; they need to begin succession planning. 

 

Replacing Salah will be far easier said than done. He has proven one of the greatest ever players in Premier League history, far exceeding expectations when he first joined from Roma in 2017 and continues to defy critics who believe he'll struggle to match the standards set in recent seasons. It's an unenviable task seeking Salah's successor. 

 

There have been a number of players linked with a move to Anfield to take over on the right flank for the Reds. West Ham pair Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus have been mooted as future signings, as has Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo. More recently, though, Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo has emerged as a potential target for Liverpool. 

 

 

Kubo has spent the last two years with La Real having joined permanently from Real Madrid in 2022. In that time he has impressed for Real Sociedad, scoring 16 times and laying on eight assists in La Liga. While the end product still needs refining, Kubo's dribbling ability is what has caught the eye as Liverpool look at Salah replacements. 

 

When he gets the ball to feet in the final third, Kubo has the pace and the speed of thought to get the better of an opponent with ease. Indeed, an average of 2.3 successful dribbles per 90 ranked 14th in Spain's top tier last term with his low centre of gravity allowing him to ease past markers. It's no wonder, then, that he was once described as the 'Japanese Messi' by former Mallorca president Maheta Malongo, a club that Kubo has previously played for. 

 

Having been dispossessed just 1.1 times per 90, Kubo is incredibly difficult to shake off the ball and this has helped the Japan international excel in Real Sociedad's favoured 4-3-3 setup. The way with which he receives the ball on the right flank before cutting onto his left is similar to that of Salah, with 44 of Kubo's 46 shots and six of his seven league goals last season coming with his wand of a left foot. Thi is an approach that is in the process of being honed with the 23-year-old overperforming his xG by 2.03, that the 13th biggest overperformance in the 2023/24 La Liga campaign. 

 

 

While Kubo may have to adjust his game slightly to fit in Arne Slot's style, the Dutchman favouring a 4-2-3-1 setup, that system and a 4-3-3 formation Real Sociedad used last season are not too dissimilar. What will appeal to Slot, though, is Kubo's hard work off the ball. As was the case with Feyenoord last season, the new Liverpool boss wants his forwards to press high up the pitch to help create chances. 

 

This is a side to Kubo's game that really stands out, and another reason why he may have been identified as a Salah successor. Not only did he make a modest 1.1 tackles per 90 in La Liga last season, but Kubo won possession in the attacking third 21 times, that ranking 12th in Spain's top tier. He'll be key in helping to win the ball in dangerous areas to rapidly turn defence into attack. Liverpool after all ranked second for attempted counter attacks (38) in the Premier League last season, while Kubo scored the second most counter-attacking goals (3) in the 2023/24 La Liga campaign. By comparison, Salah scored the fourth most fastbreak goals (3) in the division. 

 

With the added ability of being able to play across the frontline, this versatility would boost Slot's options in the final third as Liverpool usher in a new era. Salah isn't the only player on the wrong side of 30 that will need replacing before too long but bringing in a player of Kubo's potential would help the club as they gear up for the next chapter in their history.

Why Liverpool have identified Takefusa Kubo as a potential Salah successor