Japanese forward Takumi Minamino is reportedly on his way out of Liverpool this summer, and three Premier League clubs are pushing for his signature.
Minamino is set to be the first major departure from Liverpool this summer, who are demanding around a fee of around £17million ,according to Liverpool Echo
Having joined the Reds from RB Salzburg for £7.25m in January 2020, Minamino has had a mixed career at Anfield. Competing with Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino was never going to be an easy task, and expectedly he was mostly resigned to making an impact off the bench.
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Despite this, across 55 appearances he has scored 14 goals in all competitions as well as had 3 assists. He played an especially important role for Liverpool in their domestic cup runs this season. The FA Cup saw him score 3 goals in 4 matches, and in the Carabao Cup, he picked up 4 goals and one assist in 5 appearances. This helped Liverpool win both trophies and solidified his place as an important squad player who can be relied upon.
However, at the age of 27, Minamino will be seeking first-team football and will likely need to move away in order to secure this.
Leeds manager Jesse Marsch worked with Minamino at Salzburg, and with Raphinha being linked with a move away, the Liverpool winger could be a shrewd replacement.
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Similarly, Southampton are already aware of the Japanese talent, having been part of their squad after a short-term loan. He scored 2 goals in 10 appearances in the second half of the 2020/21 season, and the Saints could be tempted to make a return permanent.
Following Adama Traore’s inevitable departure from Wolverhampton Wanderers, there is stiff competition within the Premier League for Minamino - with Wolves also said to be interested in a potential move.
Liverpool will be seeking to reinforce their own attacking options this summer, with both Sadio Mane and Mohammed Salah linked with moves away, with only one year remaining on both their contracts.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Liverpool Transfer News & Rumours, Takumi Minamino, Liverpool, Transfers