Arne Slot closing in on first Liverpool signing

Bence Bocsák

• Updated: 22 Jul 2024 04:29 CDT
• 3 min read

Things have been very quiet around Liverpool during the summer transfer window so far.

While there has been a shake-up behind the scenes with a new manager, new backroom staff and a new sporting director coming in, when it comes to player departures and arrivals - there has been little movement.

Slot and his recruitment team have bided their time. The Dutchman has so far wanted to give everyone an equal opportunity in pre-season.

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Current ETV

Takefusa Kubo

M (C), F (R)

Real Sociedad

Takefusa Kubo

M (C), F (R)

Real Sociedad

€46.8M

ETV Range

€35.1M - €58.5M

View full profile

It's expected that once he has gotten a proper look at everybody, things will start to accelerate in August in terms of bringing and offloading players.

In the meantime, Liverpool's recruitment team will be shortlisting options to target and sounding out potential players for whom the club could move.

READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024 - All the Done Deals

Kubo is on Liverpool's radar

According to Japanese outlet Sponichi, one of the players who Liverpool are targeting this summer is Takefusa Kubo. The report claims that the club hasn't just targeted Kubo but that a deal is in its final stages with Liverpool close to striking an agreement.

Kubo is a Japan international who has come through the youth ranks at both Barcelona and Real Madrid.

He is a left-footed right-winger, who can also drop into midfield and is the kind of profile Liverpool have explored this summer.

With Mohamed Salah's current contract expiring at the end of next season, the Anfield club need to think about potential replacements and Kubo does tick a lot of boxes.

He may not have scored many goals in La Liga last season - just seven in total - but his goal-conversion numbers are very encouraging. There is potential there for him to scale those numbers in a better team.

But it is moot whether a deal between him and Liverpool is actually close. The Japanese outlet is considered to be reliable. However, so far there has been no indication of an agreement being close in the English media.

Liverpool do like to operate in the shadows though, so only time will tell whether there is a genuine interest in Kubo this summer.