Liverpool are ready to allow their cup king Takumi Minamino to leave Anfield this summer, should their valuation be met.
What’s the word?
That’s according to BBC Sport, who claim that the Merseyside outfit have slapped a £17m price tag on the Japan international.
Several admirers are noted, with Leeds United, Wolves, Fulham, Southampton and Monaco all interested parties.
The Reds had rejected advances in January, but now appear ready to ship the 27-year-old out of Anfield, perhaps to gather funds for a larger deal.
Could be funding the Nunez deal
Minamino only cost Liverpool a reported £7.25m back in 2019, and whilst not setting the world alight, he has been a solid addition and helped to beef out what was initially quite a threadbare squad.
With Jurgen Klopp having made a turnaround on his stance on the £75k-per-week star, perhaps the funds the Reds are trying to attain could be linked with their reported interest in Benfica forward Darwin Nunez, who will command a fee upwards of €80m (£68m).
Minamino has this season been given a slightly bigger role by his manager, who entrusted him throughout both domestic cup runs. Liverpool were successful in both, winning on penalties against Chelsea both times to secure an FA and EFL cup double.
The Osaka-born ace recorded four goals in the latter competition, and a further three in the FA Cup, making him the top scorer for the Reds in both trophy successes.
He recorded a 7.38 average SofaScore rating in the EFL cup, whilst also recording two performances of 7.8 or over in the four FA cup games he featured in. Minamino was Liverpool’s cup saviour this season, and his contributions were integral in securing the club’s only two trophies of their season.
His performances earned huge praise from his boss, who dubbed him “top class” who “shows everything” for Liverpool.
Whilst he impressed domestically, he does lack the quality to challenge any of Liverpool’s attackers for a starting birth, hence his lack of involvement in both cup finals.
Klopp can afford to sell Minamino, safe in the knowledge that the funds gained will be integral in allowing them to secure the signing of one of Europe’s hottest young talents. He has been a sensible transfer for the Reds, and his sale would mark an all-round successful transfer.
In other news, Klopp can trust £19.8m-rated “incredible talent” to fill Mane’s huge void at Liverpool.
