According to DEPREDICT, Barcelona are weighing up a possible summer move for Real Sociedad star and former Real Madrid winger Takefusa Kubo.
The 21-year-old is no stranger to Barça, having spent over four years at the club’s famed La Masia academy between 2011 and 2015.
Having returned to Japan in 2015, Kubo would make his way back to Spain four years later, when Barcelona’s arch-rivals Real Madrid signed him up.
However, the club’s filled non-EU spots meant that he was farmed on loan for three years in a row, as the winger had stints at RCD Mallorca (twice), Getafe, and Villarreal before eventually moving to Real Sociedad permanently this past summer.
Kubo has taken to life at the Basque club like duck to water and become an important part of Imanol Alguacil’s side, racking up four goals and seven assists in 26 matches. And his performances have caught the eye of his boyhood club Barcelona.
As per the report, the Blaugrana manager Xavi Hernandez is a huge admirer of Kubo and loves the 21-year-old starlet. The club legend wants the Japanese international on his roster, prompting the technical secretariat to look into the possibility of a transfer.
To that end, it is being claimed that Barcelona have contacted the winger’s agent to gain information about his contract with Sociedad, given that Real Madrid inserted a few clauses in the agreement while selling him last summer.
As per the report, Kubo is fully a Real Sociedad player, but Los Blancos retain the right of first refusal and 50% of his economic rights, meaning they can match any offer that comes for the winger, or pocket half of the transfer fee from his sale.
It is further stated that Kubo has a release clause worth €60 million in his contract with Real Sociedad.
Barcelona believe that Kubo can fit into the team’s system like a glove, with Xavi said to be a long-term admirer. The La Liga leaders have positive reports on the forward, with respect to his age, pace, creativity and speed of execution on the pitch.
Kubo, for his part, is said to be aware of Barcelona’s interest in him, but he feels settled at Sociedad, where he has won over the faith of the manager. Another obstacle for Barça would be their financial limitations as they are restricted by the Fair Play issues.
On top of that, Real Madrid could also pose a roadblock as they will have to decide whether to accept 50% of the transfer fee and risk seeing Kubo succeed at Barcelona or negotiate with Sociedad to sign him.
The operation is still very much in the nascent stages and it remains to be seen if it leads to anything substantial in the coming months.
