The £51m ideal Liverpool signing who could get Reds' summer transfer window flying

Liverpool are yet to make their first signing of the summer but with very little time left before the window closes, talks are now starting to ramp up. The main man in the spotlight right now is Real Sociedad’s Martín Zubimendi, who the Reds are reportedly willing to offer a lucrative contract in order to prise him away from his boyhood club.

Zubimendi is a defensive midfielder who can also operate at centre-back, ticking more than one box for Arne Slot and co. After missing out on their preferred targets last summer, Liverpool brought in Wataru Endō to replace Fabinho but they remain active in their search for another No.6.

While they continue to work on getting a deal over the line for Zubimendi, there are other areas of the squad to address. Despite the intense pursuit of Mohamed Salah’s signature from Saudi Arabia clubs last summer, it looks more likely now that the Egyptian will remain at Anfield for the incoming season. Salah is out of contract in 2025, so whether he is going to sign a new contract or not remains to be seen. Either way, at 32, the superstar winger will be leaving Liverpool at some point — whether that’s through a sale, a free move, or retirement.

As things stand, Salah is the only natural senior right-winger on Slot’s roster and the club will need to replace him sooner or later. Starting by signing a back-up option this summer would be an important investment for the Reds.

The likes of Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo have filled in at right-wing when Salah has been injured or called up to the Egyptian national team but it is vital other options are explored. Whenever the time comes and in whatever manner it happens, Liverpool will be without Salah at some point.

The Reds have been linked with some very exciting potential Salah replacements this summer, but most either have too high an asking price or they are extremely hot property, with other clubs in fierce pursuit of their signature. Liverpool could look closer to midfield target Zubimendi for a new a winger — in his teammate Takefusa Kubo.

The Japanese international has previously been linked with both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur recently. A Fichajes report from May claimed that Spurs were trying to negotiate a lower fee for Kubo, who has a €60 million (£51m) release clause. They were reportedly looking to do business at €50 million (£43m) instead.

A report from Japanese outlet Sponichi last month actually claimed that Liverpool were ‘preparing’ an offer of €65 million (£55m) for Kubo, so even more than his quoted release clause. The 23-year-old contributed seven goals and four assists last season, and nine goals and nine assists in the campaign prior. While the numbers are not quite the continuous double figures of Salah but for the time being, Liverpool are signing a back-up option for the Egyptian, not a direct competitor.

Similar to the situation with Endō, the Reds could bring in a solid signing like Kubo this summer and then readdress their options at the end of the 2024/25 season. Kubo had a mixed run of performances last season with Real Sociedad — he started the majority of their La Liga fixtures but he was substituted on six times, and left on the bench completely on four occasions. Sociedad went on to finish sixth, so signing to become a rotational player at a club looking to push for a title will likely still be an attractive offer for Kubo, who could link up with a familiar face in Zubimendi, if the deal goes through.

If by next summer, Liverpool are still longing for a new right-winger, they can revisit the market and look to splash more cash on a direct Salah replacement, assuming he will leave the club as a free agent at this point. It will be an even bigger boost if he pens a new deal between now and the new year, allowing Liverpool a last chance to sell him for a decent fee.

Providing there are no sudden twists in this transfer tale, Liverpool are set to keep hold of Salah for at least the upcoming season. The Egyptian has already hinted at staying for another year anyway. If his fate is to leave for free next June, it allows Liverpool to sign a solid back-up for the time being, and then prioritise the blockbuster signing of a goalscoring wide man capable of contributing similar numbers to Salah, who is still fit and firing at 32.