Why Takumi Minamino to Liverpool in January could be a massive bargain
According to The Independent, Liverpool have agreed on a deal in principle to bring Red Bull Salzburg attacker Takumi Minamino to Anfield during the January transfer window.
The Independent understands that the reigning European champions have used their excellent off-field relationship with the Austrian heavyweights to fend off competition from Man United, as well as several German Bundesliga clubs, in their pursuit of the Japanese international.
Minamino still has a contract with Salzburg until the summer of 2021 but Liverpool have been alerted to his lowly release clause of just £7.25million, which is certainly a massive bargain considering the ever-inflating transfer fees in the current market scenario.
The 24-year-old left a positive impression on the Reds’ scouting network during his fantastic all-round display in Salzburg’s 4-3 defeat at Anfield in the Champions League back in October and followed it up with another impressive outing in the 4-1 demolition of Genk on Matchday 5 last month.
The Japanese finished the UEFA Champions League group stages with a tally of 2 goals and 3 assists in 6 games as RB Salzburg finished third in Group E to cement a place in the last 32 of the Europa League.
Besides his heroics on the continental front, Minamino has also continued to fire on all cylinders for Salzburg in the domestic league and cup competitions this term to rack up an overall tally of 9 goals and 11 assists in 22 appearances.
Liverpool certainly don’t need to make wholesale changes to their squad when the transfer window reopens in January.
However, Minamino’s burgeoning reputation as a versatile playmaking forward in Austria, coupled with his low release clause, should be enough to tempt the Reds into making a move for the 24-year-old during the mid-season trading period.
To put things into perspective, it is well-documented that Liverpool already have a world-class strike force consisting of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah but Jurgen Klopp doesn’t have a lot of depth in his attacking options beyond that.
As per whoscored, the Japanese international accumulated a total of 12 key passes and completed 9 out of his attempted 18 dribbles in the group stages of the Champions League this season.
Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri are certainly more than handy back-ups available at Klopp’s disposal but Minamino seems to have a bit of everything in his repertoire of skills, as well as the tenacity and the work-rate to fit seamlessly into the manager’s high-pressing philosophy.
Add to that his positional versatility to play out wide on either flank and it’s easy to see how he could possibly add another dimension to Liverpool’s attack that is far too reliant on their prolific front trio.
As visible from his impressive link-up with the likes of Erling Braut Haaland and Hwang Hee-Chan during Liverpool’s clash against Salzburg at Anfield, the 24-year-old also has the ability to drop down deep and drift out wide to build up the play.
Despite the likes of Mane and Salah grabbing most of the limelight with their flamboyance, Firmino continues to be the key to the smooth functioning of Klopp’s 4-3-3 system. Minamino could possibly be a useful understudy to the Brazilian in the ranks at Anfield.
Salzburg have an excellent track record of blooding world-class talents and Liverpool are already enjoying the fruits of that, given that the likes of Sadio Mane and Naby Keita came through the system at Salzburg before eventually making their way to Anfield.
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Verdict
Suffice to say, Takumi Minamino looks more than capable of doing a job for Liverpool in the Premier League and Liverpool look well on course of capturing one of the biggest bargains of the winter transfer period.
