Takefusa Kubo has been impressive for Real Sociedad this season (Picture: Getty Images)
Manchester United have been keeping a close eye on Real Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo, sending scouts to watch him at least seven times this season, according to reports.
The 22-year-old has had a fascinating career so far, spending time in Barcelona’s youth ranks before returning to his home country of Japan with FC Tokyo.
Real Madrid brought him back to Europe, still as a teenager, and Kubo began to make his name with loan spells at Mallorca, Villarreal and Getafe before Real Sociedad signed him permanently in 2022.
The Japan international scored nine league goals last season and has netted six already during the current campaign, with Real Sociedad looking good in sixth in La Liga.
The Sun reports that Manchester United have been spending plenty of time looking at Kubo, with Red Devils scouts watching the Japanese star ‘at least seven times’ already this campaign.
The winger only cost Real Sociedad around £5.5m, but he is under contract until 2027 and the Spanish club rejected a bid of around £26m from Napoli over the summer, so they are not willing to let him go cheaply.
However, the Sun report suggests that Kubo could be available for around £43m next year, which could represent something of a bargain in today’s market.
Kubo has scored three goals in 29 caps for Japan (Picture: Getty Images)
Kubo spoke to Spanish publication Marca about how Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil is getting the best out of him, saying: ‘He asks a lot of me, he always wants me to give more, to stand out more, to give my best in training and in games.
‘He always reproaches me, which is a good thing, because when a coach doesn’t tell you anything it means he doesn’t expect more from you. Imanol wants all the footballers to fight to play on the weekend, to stand out in the games, something good for the coach and the team.’
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