Liverpool have agreed a deal with RB Salzburg to sign midfielder Takumi Minamino in the January transfer window, MySportDab reports.
The Reds have discovered the Japan international has a release clause of £7.25m and can play as an attacking midfielder and across the frontline.
Coach Jurgen Klopp is keen to improve his Liverpool squad as they plot to finally win the Premier League title and signing a backup for Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino is crucial to his plans.
24-year-old Minamino scored against Liverpool in October and went on to impress yet again in Tuesday’s final Champions League group stage game in Salzburg.
Minamino’s arrival at Anfield would provide Jurgen Klopp the chance to rotate his frontline ahead of a tough second half of the Premier League season.
Signing Takumi Minamino would also allow Klopp to loan out Rhian Brewster and help the youngster get some more playing time with a number of club like Crystal Palace and Aston Villa being interested in signing him.
BREAKING: Takumi Minamino will join Liverpool on January 1 pending a medical.— DaveOCKOP (@DaveOCKOP) Minamino started his career at Cerezo Osaka before moving to Austria back in 2015 and has a £7.25m release clause in his Salzburg contract.
And this represents a huge bargain in today’s market given his top-level performance, quality and young age.
Minamino has a massive following in Japan which would help Liverpool grow its fan base across Asia – a desire for which they made very clear during the summer’s court battle with their kit supplier.
Liverpool believed Nike – who won the kit deal – would be better to helping them expand their fan base in the Far East than their kit supplier New Balance.
However, Takumi Minamino did drop a transfer hint on social media after Liverpool’s Champions League match against Red Bull Salzburg earlier this campaign.
The Japanese star wrote on Twitter after the game:
“It’s been nearly five years since I traveled abroad. I’m very happy that there is truly a great stage to know if I’m growing now. But I want and plan to grow more.”
More to follow…
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