La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are reportedly interested in Takefusa Kubo, whose release clause is worth €60 million.
According to a report by AS, as relayed by SPORT, Takefusa Kubo is the subject of interest from Barcelona. The Catalan giants are considering approaching fellow La Liga club Real Sociedad with an offer. But the Japanese international’s release clause, worth €60 million, might complicate the matter.
Takefusa Kubo has been among the most highly-rated prospects coming out of Asia in recent years. The 21-year-old first arrived in Spain when he joined Barcelona’s famed academy, La Masia, in 2011. But FIFA rules forced Barcelona to part ways with the then-teenage sensation.
Kubo subsequently became the youngest player in J-League history when he made his top-flight debut for FC Tokyo. And the Japanese international’s progress caught the attention of Real Madrid, who signed him in July 2019. But the youngster could not establish a foothold at Real Madrid and joined Real Sociedad after a few loan stints away from the Santiago Bernabeu.
The former Real Madrid winger has enjoyed a decent 2022/23 campaign, amassing four goals and four assists in 18 La Liga outings. Kubo’s progress at Real Sociedad has not gone unnoticed either, as he has popped up on the radar of Barcelona.
Barcelona might lose Ferran Torres in the summer transfer window amid the Spaniard’s dwindling stature. While recent reports have suggested that Torres does not want to leave Barcelona, an exit might still be on the cards. And Kubo is a viable target to bolster the offensive unit if the former Manchester City attacker leaves.
However, Real Sociedad will unlikely let Kubo leave for cheap. And they might ask their fellow La Liga club to trigger his release clause, worth €60 million, to land the 21-year-old. That complicates matters for Barcelona, whose financial woes have shown no signs of disappearing.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid will recoup 50 per cent of the proceeds of Kubo’s sale. But the reigning La Liga champions are not considering re-signing the Japanese international, as per the report. It will be interesting to see how this story progresses and if Barcelona can bring the youngster back to Catalonia.
