Real Madrid set to beat Barcelona to signing of Japanese wonderkid Takefusa Kubo Real Madrid Catalans tried to sign forward in 2014

Real Madrid are set to beat Barcelona to the signing of Japanese starlet Takefusa Kubo from Tokyo FC.

Barcelona tried to sign the 18-year-old back in 2014, but their attempts to bring him and other under-age players to the Camp Nou saw them suspended from signing players by FIFA.

Kubo didn't end up joining the Catalan club and now it seems like he's going to get his move to Spain with Real Madrid instead.

Paris Saint-Germain are also thought to be monitoring the forward's progress, but Los Blancos are leading the chase.

They've offered Kubo a salary of one million euros a year and, although the deal is not 100 percent done, MARCA believe that an agreement is very close to being reached.

Real Madrid would pay Tokyo FC two million euros as a transfer fee, give him a five-year contract and put him into the Castilla squad for next season.

Any move for the Japanese player would see Real Madrid continue their recent trend of signing younger players.

Vinicius Junior has already proved to be a success and his compatriot Rodrygo Goes will join the club this summer as well.