One of the biggest tasks new Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola faces this summer is how to replace Mohamed Salah after the Anfield legend brought his time in a red shirt to a close last month.
Liverpool greats have come and gone over the decades, but there can be no denying that replacing the Egyptian's stunning record of 257 goals in 442 appearances will be a tall order. The acquisition of just one new player may not be enough to cover such super-human figures.
The Reds have been linked with Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola and RB Leipzig starlet Yan Diomande. However, after splurging £448m on new signings last summer, including breaking the club transfer record twice for Florian Wirtz and then Alexander Isak, Liverpool may wish to consider a cheaper alternative with the potential to grow into a new superstar under incoming boss Andoni Iraola.
While all eyes will be on the likes of Barcola, Diomande, Raphinha, and Ousmane Dembele at the World Cup, a lesser-known star has been identified as the next Salah in waiting. Japan forward Takefusa Kubo has been singled out as an excellent replacement for the Egyptian by AI humanizer GoHumanize, which provides high-end AI access to advanced performance data on players around the world.
The AI was given a brief to isolate the under-the-radar talents most ready to make a big impact at the World Cup. The Barcelona Academy graduate currently plies his trade for Real Sociedad in LaLiga and is tipped to be one of the breakthrough players at the tournament in Mexico, USA, and Canada. Kubo currently has an estimated transfer value of around £43.2m, but that could rise to around £73.4m if he has a good World Cup.
Snapping him up now could save the Reds £30m, if Iraola feels that the Japanese winger fits into his style of play that the Spaniard wishes to implement following the departure of Arne Slot. Kubo is 25 and was on Real Madrid's books for several years, although he never made a first-team appearance before joining Basque club Sociedad in 2022. He could be considered something of a punt at this stage, but if Liverpool were to sign him before his value increases, the money saved could be put towards another summer acquisition as Iraola rebuilds his forward-line options around Isak.
Other under-the-radar teams GoHumanize are identifying as ones to watch at the World Cup include South Africa winger Relebohile Mofokeng, Colombian enforcer Kevin Castaño, and Ivory Coast centre-back Ousmane Diomande, who is not related to Liverpool target Yan Diomande.
