Liverpool ready to replace Mo Salah with SPECIAL winger

Liverpool have set their sights on a special winger to replace Mohamed Salah.

Richard Hughes will not want to let the Egyptian go this summer and it's still unlikely that Salah will be leaving for pastures new.

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But with every passing day, the possibility of him leaving will increase. The more time passes and the longer the impasse is between Liverpool and Salah over a new contract, the likelier of him leaving on a free contract becomes.

Obviously, Liverpool want to avoid that scenario. However, sooner or later Hughes will have to find a solution to replace Salah in the long-term.

He's not getting any younger after all and he's already in the twilight years of his career - even if he's peaking at an all time high right now.

The best solution for Liverpool will be to replace Salah in the aggregate. There is no like for like, and the players at Salah's level will cost a premium.

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Why Liverpool are targeting special Takefusa Kubo

That's why Liverpool are targeting a special winger in Takefusa Kubo instead. He's not a like for like replacement for Salah but according to a report from TEAMtalk, he is Liverpool's number one choice to replace Salah and he has a €60m release clause.

At first glance a move for Kubo might raise eyebrows. He's not exactly a goal-scoring machine having made just 11 goal contributions this season in 43 appearances for Real Sociedad.

But context is important. Sociedad are not a very attacking team. They liked to play deep and average one of the fewest shots in the league per 90 minutes. In total they've also scored the joint fewest goals (27) in La Liga.

With that context, it's important to add that Kubo is actually Sociedad's top-scorer in La Liga as well.

So, in a better team that go forward and create more opportunities, his numbers could definitely increase. In fact if you look at his performances for Japan in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying, you get a much better picture of his quality.

Kubo has eight goal contributions in eight matches during the qualifying campaign so far and he's shown he can be dangerous in the final third - getting twice as many goal contributions during the same period as Kaoru Mitoma.

Kubo's numbers are scalable. The question mark is by how much? For Japan, he's playing against opponents of a lower level. It would remain to be seen what quality he would bring to the Premier League, playing against better defenders but also playing with much better players.

Even so, you're not necessarily going to buy Kubo for his output.

You will get him for his progressive qualities, which is where he excels. He averages 5 progressive runs per 90 and 8.8 dribbles per 90 in La Liga this season.

Combine that with a goal-scoring no.9 and you can definitely replace Salah's output in the aggregate.

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That's why a move for the Japanese star makes sense and it's one to keep an eye on.

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