Liverpool want ‘superstar’ £51m attacker more than Federico Chiesa and are quietly moving

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Liverpool have left it late to attack the market this summer but look set to get a deal or two over the line.

The Reds have watched on while clubs around the Premier League – and across Europe – have strengthened, while taking an unusually patient approach.

But with some holes left to plug in the Liverpool squad, the feeling has always been that the Reds will do something.

That came to fruition on Monday, with Giorgi Mamardashvili undergoing a medical ahead of his transfer to Anfield.

Further news spilled out in the evening that Liverpool are pursuing a deal to sign Federico Chiesa. Surprising as that was, it appears that the Italian may end up being a smokescreen for a much bigger signing.

Liverpool identify Takefusa Kubo as top target

Liverpool’s interest in Chiesa is long-standing. However, at 26 and with a patchy injury record, it seemed like the chance to sign the Italian had long gone.

With Chiesa available for just £10m or so this summer, though, the Reds interest has been reignited.

However, nothing is final with the Juventus forward, with insiders at Liverpool saying interest in Chiesa is at the early stages.

That has led to firm suggestions that the Reds have their eyes on other players, too. Kingsley Coman has already been linked as Liverpool scour the market.

READ MORE: How much Liverpool paid to sign every player in their 2024/25 squad

And now, according to Caught Offside, that search has led to them identifying a top target – and it isn’t Chiesa or Coman.

They claim that while a possible deal to sign Chiesa is seen as being too good to miss by Liverpool, they have actually put Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo ‘at the top of their list’.

The Reds’ are reportedly looking for an attacking signing who can replace Mohamed Salah next year and are said to think Kubo can be that man.

As a result, it’s claimed that Liverpool are ‘making moves behind the scenes’ in order to bring in their top target.

Could Liverpool sign Kubo and Chiesa?

It seems apparent that Kubo and Chiesa would be doing different things if they were brought into the Liverpool squad.

The Japan international is a very left-footed player and looks like a more natural successor to Salah.

Kubo has been described as being a ‘potential superstar‘ and would command a fee to reflect that, with a reported £51m release clause woven into his contract.

Chiesa on the other hand would be a cheap signing made to bolster the strength in depth across the forward line. 26-years-old to Kubo’s 23, the Italian would not really seem like a potential successor to Salah in the future. Kubo would.

Because of their differing profiles, perhaps there is a chance that Liverpool want to sign both of these players. However, as that would then leave seven attackers in Slot’s squad, that does not seem especially likely.