Teammate Praise? Hideo Endo: Among Current Japanese Internationals, Takefusa Kubo Could Be the Successor to Salah

Recently, news about Real Sociedad attacker Takefusa Kubo has been continuously followed and reported by major media outlets, with reports stating that Liverpool is preparing to activate the release clause of the 23-year-old player. Statements made by Hideo Endo, captain of the Japanese national team who plays for Liverpool, in an interview with domestic Japanese media have further fueled these rumors.

Last weekend, Japanese media outlet Sponichi Annex first linked Takefusa Kubo with Liverpool, suggesting that Liverpool was preparing to bid £55 million (€65 million) for Kubo. The report also hinted that the Reds had offered him a weekly wage of around £240,000, which would immediately make Kubo one of the highest-paid players at Liverpool. However, Spanish newspaper AS subsequently published a detailed report claiming that Liverpool was preparing to activate Kubo’s release clause worth €60 million (£51 million).

While such figures may seem somewhat unbelievable from the perspective of transfer fees and wages, and it may be premature to report any agreement at this stage, the fact remains that Takefusa Kubo is attracting significant interest from top clubs. Hideo Endo, the captain of the Japanese national team who joined Liverpool from Bundesliga club Stuttgart last summer, believes that his teammate could live up to the title of “Successor to Salah.”

In an interview with the Japanese program Abema Sports Time, Endo said, “The search for a successor to Salah has already begun, and it has become a key focus for strengthening Liverpool’s squad. I believe that among current Japanese internationals, the player who can replace Salah is Takefusa Kubo.”